43,514 ha of cultivable land brought under MI
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, July 21 2016: Nearly 43,514 Ha of cultivable land has been brought under minor irrigation in the State, said L Gourkishore Singh, Chief Engineer, Minor Irrigation Department in a press conference held here today at DIPR.

On completion of the ongoing projects taken up by the Department, an additional irrigation potential of 12,904 Ha will be created, he said.

The works were taken up under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), North Eastern Council (NEC), Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

At present, 102 schemes under AIBP-102 are in progress and they are scheduled to be completed by March 2017 .

He further said sustainable irrigation is vital for overall economic progress of the State.

The State's socio-economic structure is linked to agriculture reliant economy.

He appealed to give due weightage to Minor Irrigation seeing the topographic situation of the State.

Minor Irrigation holds the key for an equitable, quick and effective expansion in agriculture sector.

Minor Irrigation is developing the oldest and indigenous water harvesting structure like pick-up weirs, river lift irrigation schemes and irrigation tanks.

He further said during 2013-14, 102 clusters of Minor Irrigation schemes under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) now renamed as Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), were taken up.

The total number of minor irrigation schemes included in the clusters were 555, with a total project cost of Rs 170.37 crore to give an irrigation potential of 12,904 Ha.

Out of the project cost of Rs 170.37 crore, the Ministry of Water Resources, Govt of India had released a sum of Rs 62.32 crore as Central Assistance and the State Government had released Rs 17.21 crore as State matching share.

The Ministry of Water Resources has to release the balance amount of Rs 90.84 crore.

The majority of the schemes are in the completion stage.

The schemes taken up under AIBP-102 include 555 works in the entire State at a total cost of Rs 17037 lakh.

Under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund- (RIDF-XXI) the Department repaired 20 works at a total project cost of Rs 10 crore.

The works were taken up in places which were damaged during the flood of July 2015 .

The schemes included construction of retaining wall for the weir at Kakching Ithei Maru, retaining wall for the weir at Wangjing Canteen Lampak, retaining wall for the mini barrage at Sangaiyumpham, Khangabok, guide bank for the pick-up weir at Heirok etc.

Under North Eastern Council four schemes were taken up by Minor Irrigation Department during the last five years.

The Schemes are Pick up Weir across Loklai River at Penjang, Churachandpur district for which tender process is in progress.

Pick up Weir across Thoubal River at Humphung Kaziphung village, Ukhrul district and foundation work has started, concrete dam across Heirok River at Heirok Litan Makhong, Thoubal district is under construction and concrete weir across Sekmai river near Sekmai old bridge side wall are under construction.

During the flash flood of July 2015, the width of the Heirok river became nearly 450 ft against its original width of 150 ft.

The Department approached NABARD for help and now the project is scheduled to be completed by May 2017 .

He further said during the current financial year, the Department is planning to take up Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of some lakes namely Pumlenpat and Kharungpat in Thoubal district; Oksoipat and Haotakpat in Bishnupur district; Khonghampat and Konchak in Imphal West district and Lairampat in Imphal East district.

The schemes are included in the District Irrigation Plan (DIP) of the State during the current Financial Year.

Since the inception of AIBP in 1999, the Department had taken up 843 Minor Irrigation schemes and an irrigation potential of 43,514 Ha has been created.

Computerization of departmental records, updation of departmental website, implementation of e-tendering and e-procuring processes are underway actively, even though the department is facing acute shortage of qualified manpower.

H Brajendra, EE, Th Jotin, EE, Zuithang Gangte EE, W Ingobi, EE and Th Suresh Asstt Engineer also attended the conference.

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