CM inaugurates first phase of Konar Irrigation project

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Wednesday inaugurated the first phase of Konar Irrigation Project, which will benefit 85 villages in Hazaribagh, Giridih and Bokaro districts of the state.

The project was initiated in 1977 during undivided Bihar.

"The double engine governments of the BJP at the Centre and in the state took up the challenge in completing the first phase of this ambitious project in less than five years time, and this irrigation project will prove to be a milestone for the Jharkhand state," Das said after the inauguration of the project.

He said when his government came to power in 2014, the state had four lakh hectares of irrigated land which has now increased to 12.5 lakh hectares.

"The state government has given priority to set up a network of small and medium irrigation projects and has spent more than Rs 1,326 crore to increase irrigated land and enable farmers grow three crops per year instead of only one crop earlier. The government will help the farmers to double their income by 2022," he added.

Das also said that directions have been issued to all the district deputy commissioners to convene gram sabhas in every village and ensure rain water harvesting.

The principal secretary of Water Resources Department, Arun Kumar Singh, said the Konar irrigation project was mooted by the Bihar government in 1977 at a cost of Rs 11.43 crore, but it has now escalated to Rs 2,176 crore.

He said Rs 480 crore was spent in the project till July 2019.

Singh said the entire project would be completed by 2031 and it would help irrigation of 63,000 hectare land in the 85 villages across the three districts.