World Bank okays 84 irrigation projects

Bhopal, Jan 1: The World Bank has approved 84 irrigation projects of Madhya Pradesh and is considering 66 more such proposals forwarded by the state government.

Under the project, existing irrigation projects would be renovated and given a new shape, while the farmers living in the project area would be provided the benefits of improved farming, horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry, Water Resources Minister Anup Mishra said today.

Modernisation of Harsi canal has been started and agency carrying out works of Chambal Main Canal has been identified, he said, adding work on other 22 small and medium projects is under progress.

With the assistance of World Bank, Rs 1919 crore Water Sector Restructuring Project is being implemented in the state for modernising irrigation projects. Under this six year project ending 2011, 654 old dams and its canals would be renovated in 30 districts falling under the basins of five rivers.

In the first phase, 175 small and medium projects would be covered. So far, 150 such proposals had been forwarded to the World Bank, Mr Mishra said, adding a Project Implementation and Coordination Unit had been formed under the Water Resources department for implementing the World Bank project.

UNI