Govt initiates steps to ensure water supply till 'tail end'

The state Irrigation and Waterways department has initiated taking all necessary steps to ensure supply of water till the "tail end" of Purulia district for cultivation of crops.

The state Irrigation department has decided to bring in 35,000 acre of agricultural land in Purulia, which is a drought-prone district, under the irrigation project.

Rajib Banerjee, the state Irrigation and Waterways minister, visited different parts of Purulia along with the chief engineer and other senior officials of the department to ensure completion of the task within the stipulated time.

Banerjee further added: "This year we have set a target to bring in 35,000 acre of agricultural land under the irrigation project so that cultivation is not hampered due to lack of water supply. At the same time, the decision is to supply water till the tail end of Purulia."

In a bid to make this huge challenge of providing water to this drought-prone district a reality, the state Irrigation and Waterways department

has decided to carry out different projects worth Rs 30 crore this year. It includes the crucial task of restoration of canals. At the same time, the embankments of differentcanals will also be repaired.

Besides taking a stock of the ongoing projects in Purulia, the minister also spoke to people's representatives in the district where temperature in summer touches around 52 degree Celsius.

Before visiting different sites of the ongoing projects, Banerjee held a review meeting with the district authorities.

It may be mentioned that once Purulia used to suffer immensely as agriculture was almost impossible due to lack of water. The scenario has changed a lot with several steps being taken in the past five-and-a-half years after the change of guard took place in the state. Now, the present government is aiming supply of water to each and every part of the district. The minister will be visiting Bankura on Thursday.

The Irrigation and Waterways department has already created 89 check dams only in Bankura and the work to construct another eight is going on in full swing.

It may be mentioned that the state government has brought in more 3 lakh acre of agricultural land under the irrigation programme in the current fiscal and as a result there was no shortage of water either for Rabi or Boro crops. Moreover, one lakh out of the three lakh acre comes under Jangalmahal area.