Asom villagers pool together for river-based irrigation

Mangaldoi, Aug 29: The people of a distant village of Darrang district in Asom have come forward to arrange water for their fields after the state government's irrigation facilities completely proved inadequate to meet the current drought-like situation in the state.

The government's provision of supply of eight litres of diesel to run shallow tube-wells proved inadequate in this area. The people of about half a dozen neighbouring villages came together and have constructed an artificial dam.

It has been built on the Dimila river at Santipukhuri area of Sareng village in the district, about 20 km from here, which was inaugurated recently.

The 50-feet wide and as much deep river has the capacity to cater to about 5,000 bighas of paddy land, bringing succour to the 25,000 population dependant on the said land for their livelihood.

Local MLA Binode Kumar Saikia, who was present at the inauguration, said the money spend on the construction would be reimbursed from the rural development schemes.

The area receives deficit rainfall. However, the situation had been aggravated by the current drought-like situation prevailing in the state.

UNI