Haryana to promote drip irrigation

To promote drip irrigation in southern Haryana, the state government will soon provide pipes and other equipment at subsidised rates to ensure conservation of water.
This was stated by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar during his visit to distributaries in Bahal, Paju, Sirsi, Chahar Khurd, Sorda Kadim and Sorda Jadid villages in Bhiwani district today, an official release said.
Khattar said that water has been supplied to these villages through distributaries after many years.
Water has been supplied to the areas in Rajasthan, which was deprived of it for almost three decades, because of the efforts of the Haryana government, he claimed.

The chief minister alleged that previous state governments had "neglected" the southern area of Haryana.
The present government has made arrangements to provide water to villages in Loharu division through the Sorra distributary and Nangal Paju and Chahar minors out of the total water available in the state, Khattar said.

"The canal network in Haryana has 1,300 tail-ends, of which water has been supplied to more than 1,200. Water will be supplied to the remaining tail-ends after completion of repairs," he said.
Urging farmers not to be misled by leaders of opposition parties and to avail the benefits under schemes, the chief minister said that farmers should adopt the use of drip irrigation technique instead of sprinklers, which would lead to conservation of water and electricity.

He said that solar power projects would be established to supply electricity to 'dhaanis' of the area, and power would be provided for operating tube wells for irrigation by setting up solar power plants.
Khattar also urged the people to pay their electricity bills on time as the state government provides 24-hour power supply in villages with line losses below 20 per cent.
He asked farmers to store the canal water in wells and ponds to increase groundwater level.
Canal water would also be provided to farmers on the completion of projects such as Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal, Hansi-Butana Canal, Lakhwar Dam and Renuka Dam, Khattar said.