UP Government launches new irrigation project to benefit over 40 lakh farmers

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath is taking a new initiative, which can benefit around 40 lakh farmers in the state. The UP Government has decided to irrigate 16.49 lakh hectares of extra land from the irrigation project until 2022, so that the agriculture sector does not suffer due to lack of water. In this project, around 40.56 lakh farmers are likely to be benefitted.

The Uttar Pradesh government claims to  work for the benefit of small & marginal farmers. The new irrigation project is said to supply water to the regions where very small amount of agriculture takes place, due to water scarcity. The water for the irrigation project will be obtained from Bhavani, Ratauli, Lakheri, Masgao, Babina, Saryu Canal,   Umraha, Chilli and Barwar Lake. The farmers of all regions including Bundelkhand, Western Uttar Pradesh and Purvanchal will be benefitted with the new irrigation project, but the farmers of Bundelkhand will receive maximum benefit from it. This new project very important for Bundelkhand as it is often hit by drought and very less rainfall. In addition, Bundelkhand is the main focus area of the UP government.

The Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department A.K Singh, said that as a matter of priority, the UP government completed the Rasin Dam Project of Chitrakoot & the Bandai Dam Project of Lalitpur last year between, 1^st March, 2020 to 31^st March, 2021 and these will irrigate the additional land of about 2,290 and 3,025 hectares in the respective districts. Electricity is being generated from 2.50MW capacity solar plant at the top of Kakhlaun Pump Canal of Lalitpur. 

Moreover, in the coming days, the projects like Kulpahar, Shahzad and Chilli of Bundelkhand, will become a model for Uttar Pradesh. As these are being connected to the sprinkle system, it will result in more irrigation with less amount of water and yield will also increase.