Irrigation dept to ensure water supply for rabi, boro seasons to 12 districts

Kolkata: The state Irrigation and Waterways department has set a target of supplying sufficient water for agriculture to more than 6.5 lakh acres of land in 12 districts in the rabi and boro seasons.

This is the first time in ten years when water for agriculture will be supplied to such a large area and a roadmap to ensure the same has been prepared in a meeting held on Wednesday in the office of the state Irrigation and Waterways department in Jalosampad Bhawan in Salt Lake.

Rajib Banerjee, the state Irrigation minister, senior officials of the department, sabhadipatis and irrigation karmadhakshyas were present in the meeting.

An "irrigation roadmap" has been prepared in the meeting to ensure sufficient supply of water in both rabi and boro season.

A target of supplying water for agriculture to 6,60,820 acres of land in 12 districts has been set.

It includes 1,15,000 acres in Bankura, 1,08,345 acres in East Burdwan, 6,717 acres in Purulia, 88,175 acres in Howrah and 5,100 acres in the newly formed district Jhargram.

It will also be beneficial for North Bengal as well as 1,10,224 acres of land in Jalpaiguri, also included in the irrigation roadmap for the rabi and boro seasons.

Sabhadipatis and irrigation karmadhakshyas will be given necessary information related to the release of water as per the prepared roadmap.

It will help in proper dissemination of the information among farmers so

that they can get the maximum benefit out if it.

A good rainfall this year has ensured sufficient water reserve in Kangshabati and Mayurakshi along with medium and small water reserves in Purulia. There is also good reserve in the three major water reserves of DVC in Jharkhand.

Top brass of the state Irrigation department maintain a regular interaction with all the concerned bodies including the DVC and it has helped in maintaining a good water reserve which will now help in ensuring sufficient water supply.

It may be mentioned that the

irrigation facility in the state has improved a lot in the past six years with different steps being taken by the Mamata Banerjee government.

A large area of agricultural land

has been brought under the ambit of

irrigation by developing necessary infrastructure.

At the same time, immediate steps were also taken to strengthen the embankment where it was affected during heavy rainfall that even led to flood in some places in both North and South Bengal.