CM mulls fish farms in barren paddy land
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 28 2023:
Chief minister N Biren said that the government will grant approval to convert barren paddy land into fish farm on case-by-case basis after assessing the ground situation.
He made the statement while responding to policy cut motions moved by opposition members K Meghachandra and Th Lokeshwar regarding lack of irrigation facilities in agricultural land during the discussion on demand for grant of minor irrigation department in the state assembly session on Tuesday.
The CM said that the government is taking up various measures such as construction mini dam, river lift irrigation (RLI) projects, groundwater irrigation through tube well, rain water harvesting, check dams among others since water from major dams cannot cover the entire agricultural areas of the state.
There are 217 RLI schemes in the state with 132 functioning properly.
MI department is in the process to repair 58 RLIs and 36 new schemes are being constructed while 27 RLIs are in need of major repairing.
At the same time, the government is taking up initiatives to replace diesel water pumps with electric pumpsets, he said.
The CM further informed that efforts are on to bring better coordination among MI, water resources and CADA to ensure effective irrigation system.
Tube wells are being constructed under PMKSY scheme and the government is hopeful of providing irrigation water from these tube wells.
The government had also sent proposals for construction of check dams in some hill areas.
Rs 5 crore from the state and Rs 80 crore from the Centre under PMKSY scheme will be provided for improving the irrigation system, the CM said while assuring of covering the missed out areas.
Stating that the state is facing a severe challenge of depleting water sources due to rampant deforestation, the CM called for a mass movement to plant more trees not only in the hills but also in the valley area to address the issue of water scarcity and climate change.