Irrigation in one lakh hectare from Narmada

Bhopal, Jan 18: Additional one lakh hectare area will be brought under irrigation this year from the ongoing projects on the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh, while irrigation potential for only 52,763 hectare has been created in the past three years.

About Rs 347 crore had been spent till December 2006 on the ongoing projects, official sources said.

Maan irrigation project in tribal dominated Dhar district was completed in October last with the potential to irrigate 15,000 hectare, while the Jobat project with irrigation potential in 9848 hectare was expected to be completed in few months.

Work was progressing in full swing on the Bargi diversion canal and Rani Avantibai left bank canal having potential to irrigate 55,000 hecate and 33,000 hectare respectively. Construction of Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar project canal and Upper Veda project was in progress.

Madhya Pradesh also bears 57 percent expenditure on the dam and power project of the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada river.

UNI