Deoghar: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren took part in the Foundation Laying Stone Ceremony of Sikatia Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme at Sarath Block in Deoghar on Monday. He said, “We are moving forward rapidly with commitment. Sikatia Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme is going to be a part of this series. Under this irrigation scheme, water will reach the fields through underground pipelines and the crops will flourish”.
He said that in the coming days, farmers will be able to do farming throughout the year in Tand also, because the government is working towards providing water for irrigation here too.
The Chief Minister said that it was always heard that the water of Jharkhand’s dams, barrages and water reservoirs is not being used by the farmers of Jharkhand but by other states. In such a situation, the people here should use the water. In this direction, after making an action plan, we are moving towards its implementation. In the coming days, water from river Ganga will also reach the fields through a pipeline. In this direction also, the government has started preparing an action plan.
The Chief Minister said that the government is laying special emphasis on using the latest technology for irrigation projects. So that, along with better and proper use of water, the fields and barns do not come under submergence, hence, under the Mega Lift Irrigation Project, water from rivers, dams and barrages is being supplied to the fields through underground pipelines.
In this series, the foundation stone of the state’s first megalift irrigation project was laid at Masaliya in Dumka and we are getting the privilege of laying the foundation stone of Sikatia Mega Lift Irrigation Project at Sarath in Deoghar. I am happy that I had inaugurated Ajay Barrage at this very place in the year 2013- 14.
The Chief Minister said that earlier also many schemes were made for irrigation. It was also implemented. But, it took 30 to 40 years for its completion. Many plans are still incomplete. Due to the longer time taken to complete the projects, their cost increased.
The biggest thing is that the people whose land, fields and barns were acquired for these projects, waited for a long time to get the benefits but were disappointed. But our government is moving towards completing all the projects including irrigation on time, so that people can get maximum benefits from them.
The Chief Minister said that we understand the feelings of the people. Know their needs and are also aware of their problems. In such a situation, our government is working by making an action plan as per the expectations and aspirations of the people.
The Chief Minister said that as soon as our government was formed in the year 2019, we started facing challenges. First of all, the global pandemic Corona caught us in its grip. When we came out of Corona, we had to face drought. But, amidst all these challenges, our government is working to speed up the pace of development.
Under the Sikatiya Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme, irrigation facilities will be available through an underground pipeline from Ajay River Barrage. Rs 484 crore 35 lakh will be spent on this scheme. The construction work will be completed in three years. 1 lakh 11 thousand 174 farmers of 27 panchayats of Sarath and Karon of Deoghar district and Vidyasagar and Jamtara blocks of Jamtara district will benefit from this scheme.
The Patwan facility will be available in 13 thousand 164 hectares of agricultural land. Apart from paddy, irrigation facilities will be available for the cultivation of crops like Ragi, Jowar and Maize along with pulses and oilseeds. If there is heavy rainfall and the fields do not require that much water, then that water can be diverted to the adjacent reservoirs.