Keen Review

Ranchi, Nov. 8: Chief minister Arjun Munda today chose to look into his state’s water resources over Barack Obama’s address.

Munda directed water resources department to set targets to complete pending irrigation projects at the earliest.

Putting priority on water resources in a rain-strapped state that is ironically largely dependent on the cultivation of paddy, the review meeting headed by the chief minister also decided to electrify the villages dependent on lift irrigation for agriculture and complete at least four medium irrigation projects during the current financial year.

Talking to The Telegraph, deputy chief minister Sudesh Mahto, who also heads the water resources department maintained that Ajay Barage, Nakti, Surangi and Batane water reservoir projects would be complete by March 2011.

“We are also aiming at completing four more irrigation projects, including Upper Sankh and Gumani water reservoir projects by June next year,” he added.

This apart, the state government also decided to enable the functioning of lift irrigation projects to the maximum and at the earliest, so that their benefits reach the largest number of farmers.

Currently, there are over 1,238 such projects dotting the state, but a majority of them are defunct. Most are dependent on generators, which is a costly affair for poor farmers.

“Villages with lift irrigation facilities will be electrified, so as to eliminate the role of generators. We are determined to improve irrigation facilities,” the minister added.

While reviewing the progress of water resources department, the chief minister also stressed on time-bound completion of all long-pending ambitious irrigation projects, including the Subarnarekha and Kanhar projects.

Munda was reminded that that the state had already requested the Centre to include all such projects in the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, so that 90 per cent of all the funds for these projects were made available by the Centre.

Munda gave New Delhi a miss today, preferring instead to complete his homework before meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the request to give special attention to Jharkhand.

“In fact, I began my review meetings very early today so as to reach Delhi on time. But, safeguarding the interests of the state is more important than meeting the US President. I did not deem it wise to abandon such crucial meetings halfway,” said the chief minister.