Centre clears two irrigation projects for Punjab

Chandigarh, July 25 (UNI) The Centre today sanctioned two projects, Sirhind Feeder Part-II and Bathinda Branch Part-II under Command Area Development (CAD), worth Rs 654.46 crore for Punjab.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with Water Resources minister Saif-Ud-Din Soz at New Delhi.

During the meeting, the CM sought an early clearance of various pending irrigation projects with the Centre.

Mr Badal urged Prof Soz to change the norms of the CAD scheme which stipulates the commissioning of the new project only after the completion of the previous one and submission of the utilisation certificate. He requested Prof Soz to revise these norms in case of Punjab.

Prof Soz assured the Chief Minister that the Ministry would soon clear the proposals submitted by the state government under the expansion, renovation and modernization (ERM) scheme.

The Water Resources Minister also agreed in principle to allot new projects under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) in accordance with the proposals submitted by the state irrigation department.

Prof Soz urged Mr Badal to adopt the model bill on rain water harvesting for groundwater recharging because the water table in the state had already depleted at an alarming level. He asked the CM to change the provisions of the bill according to the requirements of the state.

The Chief Minister assured Prof Soz that the state would soon adopt the bill and make it mandatory for the conservation of water resources in the state.

The Union Minister informed Mr Badal that the Ministry had already selected 200 villages in Punjab for setting up knowledge Centres in the state as per the recommendations of the Punjab Agricultural University.

A total of 5,000 centres would be established in the country to impart latest training to the farmers in order to up-grade the technological skills with regard to innovative methods of irrigation and high-yielding verities of seeds.

UNI