One lakh ponds to be constructed in farms in MP

Bhopal, Apr 20: Aimed at retaining water in farms for ensuring its availability to peasants, one lakh ponds will be dug in farms across Madhya Pradesh as a part of the Jalabhishek Abhiyan.

Panchayat and Rural Development minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said irregular rainfall and scarcity of water in unirrigated areas, badly affected crops causing shortfall in production.

''Keeping this problem in mind, a scheme has been chalked out for retaining water in farms,'' he said, adding, availability of sufficient water for kharif and rabi crops would be ensured in case of less rainfall this year.

Besides, construction of ponds in farms would help in maintaining appropriate moisture in soil for rabi crops in initial stages, he said.

He said district collectors had been directed to prepare a workplan to construct ponds before monsoon.

The minister added that technical information for digging ponds had already been sent to all districts keeping in view shapes and sizes of different farms.

UNI