Naveen announces Rs 2000 crore package for farmers

Bhubaneswar, Dec 24 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced Rs 2000 crore package for the farmers and stated that 2008 will be the Year of Irrigation.

Under the package, amounts of Rs five lakh would be created in every village, where the irrigation facilities did not exist for 35 per cent of the land area.

Mr Patnaik said the government also targetted to construct 1000 Minor Irrigation Projects (MIP) during 2008 across the state.

At least three to four MIPs would be constructed in every block, where the irrigation facilities did not cover 35 per cent of the agricultural land.

The survey for the MIP would start soon, he said.

The Chief Minister further said 1000 new Lift Irrigation Points with assistance from NABARD would be installed and under the Jalanidhi scheme 25,000 new tube wells would be installed during the year.

The improvement, extension and lining of the canal system in MIP would also be taken up during the year under the supervision of the Pani Panchayats.

In addition to it the work of the Command Area Development Agency would also be supervised by the Pani Panchayts for the benefit of the farmers, Mr Patnaik said.

UNI