Minor irrigation in hot pursuit of total irrigation : Minor Irrigation Dept
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 22 2016: The State Government is engaged in hot pursuit of most economic and effective measures of tapping natural resource like rain water for irrigation purposes as the water bodies are rain fed and arable lands are scattered in small pockets in the State.

The viability of minor irrigation schemes in the State is increasing incessantly during recent years.

In the successive years since its inception in 1981, Minor Irrigation Department, Manipur has brought a paradigm shift in the realm of irrigation in the State in the public domain.

Achievement of the Department in terms of irrigated lands has peaked to 58803 Ha.

Still a bulk of cultivable lands in the State particularly in the hilly areas, where minor irrigation is the exclusive option, is needed to be brought under irrigation.

Minor irrigation in hot pursuit of total irrigation

The average rate of bringing arable lands under irrigation per year by the Department is to the tune of 3460 Ha.

which needs to be improved further so that the objective of total irrigation in the State can be achieved in near future.

This situation calls for an exhaustive study on ground and a comprehensive planning accompanied by financial back up by the Government.

Various types of Minor Irrigation Schemes like surface flow schemes and lift irrigation schemes are being widely implemented in the State.

Surface flow irrigation schemes comprise of construction of (a) Pick-up weirs/mini barrages which divert water from rivers/streams to canals and give water to the agricultural fields, (b) Irrigation tanks which conserve/store rain water or water from hill streams via link channels which can be used for irrigation when needed.

Lift irrigation schemes are constructed at suitable places for lifting irrigation water from rivers or other water bodies by using diesel/electric pumping sets.

The water is channelled through canals to nearby irrigation fields.

One such lift irrigation scheme have the capacity to irrigate 20 Ha.

of agricultural land by deploying 25 horse power pumping sets.

At present, Minor Irrigation Schemes are being taken up with Central assistance under AIBP funding (now PMKSY), Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India and with the funds from other agencies such as NLCPR, NEC and NABARD.

These schemes are implemented with proper assessment of the suitability of the sites and feasibility of the particular schemes, viz, construction of mini barrage or weir, lift irrigation schemes or irrigation tank in relation with the need of the locality.

Under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) which was launched in the State from the year 1999-2000 by the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, the Department has so far completed 843 numbers of minor irrigation schemes at a total cost of Rs 303.43 crore and 43,514 Ha.

of cultivable land has been brought under its command.

It has played a commendable role in promoting agricultural productivity in the areas under its operation.

Number of district wise completed Minor Irrigation schemes are Thoubal� 156, Chandel� 35, Bishnupur-102, Churachandpur-67, Imphal East� 125, Imphal West� 122, Ukhrul� 70, Tamenglong � 43 and Senapati� 123 .

Another 102 clusters of Minor Irrigation schemes are under implementation at the total cost of Rs 170.37 crore with a target of 12,904 Ha.

Under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), the Department has completed 5 projects, viz, (i) Modernisation of Kakching Ithei Maru Main canal at the cost of Rs 340.00 lakh, 2) Construction of Mini Barrage a/c Itam river at Kharasom Imphal East, at the cost of Rs 361.00 lakh, (iii) Construction of Mini Barrage over Itok river at Chandrakhong at a cost of Rs 498.00 lakh, (iv) Construction of Mini Barrage across Wangjing river near Canteen Lampak with project cost of Rs 498.00 lakh and (v) Construction of weir across Narmia river at Kongkhan Thana with project cost of Rs 306.00 lakh.

A total of 4889 Ha.

of land has been brought under the command of these projects.

During the current financial year, NABARD had sanctioned Rs 950.00 lakh to repair 20 Minor Irrigation schemes which were badly damaged by the flash flood last year.