17 CAD projects to create irrigation potential in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 4 (UNI) As the irrigation facilities play a major part in achieving self-reliance in food grain production, the Department of Command Area Development and Water Management (CAD&WM) has taken up a number of projects for treatment to bring greenery to barrn land.

Officials said here today that along with the efforts for boosting production in the field of agriculture, the extension of irrigation facilities play major role in achieving self-reliance in foodgrain production.

However, he said, preparedness of area to achieve irrigation facilities was a pre-requisite.

The CAD &WM is engaged in this stupendous task, he said, adding in the Kashmir Valley 12 projects for treatment of 3605 hectare land under the centrally-sponsored schemes and 5 projects to make over 14400 hectares area cultivable are in progress under the State and NABARD funding.

He said the projects would benefit 141 villages and bring greenery to the barren land. So far about 5300 hectare of land was made cultivable in these villages.

The total estimated cost of the project is over Rs 66 crore and so far Rs 9 crore have been spent on these projects. Of these, three projects namely Bulbul Canal, Waniyarm and Dangarwari-Nagarwari involving an expenditure of Rs 34.06 crore are likely to treat 2380 hectare of land in 61 villages. So far Rs 3.50 crore have been incurred on these projects and the irrigation potential for 2374 hectare has been created.

The Bulbul Canal project has been completed at a cost of Rs 17.02 crore. It has created irrigation potential of 1117 hectare in 42 villages.

UNI BAS SV KN1409