LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Deoghar, Oct 9: State Chief Minister Hemant Soren today fiercely targeted the previous governments and the Central Government while addressing people on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the Sikatiya mega lift irrigation project here.
The CM said that despite 70 percent of the people of the state doing farming, they ignored them. The situation during the previous regime was such that a canal faced breach during the inauguration ceremony, he recalled.
The chief minister alleged that the Central Government had hatched a big conspiracy to eliminate farming from the country, perhaps this was the reason that for a year, there was a movement in the country against the black laws made in the name of farmers.
According to the chief minister, as soon as his government was formed, it had to face many challenges. “First, there was the Corona period twice in a row due to which the wheel of development stopped. After that, there was a drought situation in the state for two consecutive years, due to which the farmers were greatly affected. But when it was the turn of the Central Government for help, they did not listen. Rather, they kept rebuking in the name of help,” he pointed out.
“But there is no need to worry. The present government understands your feelings very well. Our government has made only those schemes which will benefit all the farmers. Now farming will be possible in the field,” he said.
The chief minister said that the government is worried about migration, which is why the Irrigation Department was asked to work on such a plan which would take less time. “The water of our state is used by the neighbouring states. “Now, we will bring the water of Ganga to the state. The government will give whatever the farmers want. The government is serious about increasing their income from farming”, he added.
Referring to the schemes run by the state government, he appealed to educate the girls and let them become self-reliant in life. There are many such schemes of the government which can be availed, he added.
The foundation stone was laid at village Sikatiya, block Sarath, district Deoghar.
This scheme will be constructed at a cost of Rs 484.35 crore.
Pressing need of the scheme
In Sarath, Karo, Vidyasagar, and Jamtara blocks under the Deoghar and Jamtara districts, irrigation was impossible through the traditional canal system because of the cultivable land at a height above the river level and due to excessive land acquisition of cultivable land in this system. The Sikatiya Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme has been prepared to provide irrigation facilities by lifting water through the pipeline. Through this, in order to ensure continuous availability of water for pumping, a circular irrigation facility will be provided in the irrigated area through a water pipeline from the pump motor from upstream of Ajay Barrage located near Sikatiya village. Apart from mainly paddy, cultivation of mustard, green gram beans, wheat, and maize will also be possible in the proposed area. For the purpose of providing water for agriculture-related activities and animals, in case of excessive rainfall and limited need for water in the fields, a provision has been made to transfer the water and fill the nearby ponds, so that the villagers always get water through the ponds.
Farmers of four blocks of 27 panchayats to benefit
As a result of the implementation of this scheme, a population of 1,11,174 people living in 4 blocks of 27 panchayats of Deoghar and Jamtara district will benefit. 13,930 people coming from Scheduled Caste and 26,346 people hailing from the Scheduled Tribe people residing in these areas will be immensely benefited. The scheme will benefit farmers of 06 panchayats of Sarath block, 06 of Karon block, 12 of Vidyasagar block, and 03 panchayats of Jamtara block.
Previously, the chief minister had given his directions to start the construction of Mega Lift Yojana to provide irrigation facilities in Masaliya and Raneshwar block under Dumka district, through which irrigation and water supply schemes will be started for 22,000 hectares of land.
