STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Department of Irrigation, Assam, completed phase I and phase II of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), besides the completion of PMKSY-AIBP-MI (Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme-Minor Irrigation). However, the department is yet to get approval for phases III, IV, and V of PMKSY.
Talking to The Sentinel, an irrigation official said, “The department allotted 4,779 tube wells in 20 districts to irrigate 19,116 hectares of land at a cost of Rs 246.06 crore. Of the allotted tube wells, 2344 were powered by solar energy and 2435 by electricity. Phase I of this scheme has been completed. In phase II, PMKSY took 4916 tube wells in ten districts. However, 33 tube wells were dropped: one in Cachar, 17 in Hailkandi, and 15 in Karimganj, as the boring for the installation failed. The completed tube wells irrigate 19,532 hectares of agriculture land, costing Rs 292.96 crore. As many as 1243 of the tube wells function under solar power, and 3640 function with electricity.”
The official said, “Of the 340 PMKSY-AIBP-MI schemes, the department completed 217 in 22 districts, and the work on 24 is going on. The target is to irrigate 175663 hectares of land. The department has covered 91,366 hectares of land by now.”
The official further said, “The proposals for as many as 7,563 tube wells under Phase III of the scheme for small and marginal tea growers in 18 districts have been sent. However, approval from the Central Government is awaited. Likewise, the proposals for 10,230 tube wells for 18 districts under Phase IV have been sent to the Centre. Approval is awaited. The proposals of 500 tube wells for the Morigaon district adopted by the Governor under Phase V of the scheme have also been sent to the Centre, which has not yet approved them.”
PMKSY was formulated and launched in 2015 with the vision of extending the coverage of irrigation ‘har khet ko pani’ and improving the water use efficiency.
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