Flatten Chambal ravines for farming? Why the ambitious plan may struggle

Union agriculture minister is of the view that 300,000 hectares of rugged land is not cultivable, which if improved will help in the integrated development of the Bihad area

Ramprakash Kansana from Nayakpura village in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh is apprehensive about the latest government move to flatten the Chambal ravines that lie close to his village to make them suitable for farming.

The ravines, locally called, 'Bihad', which were once home to several dreaded dacoits have long been the subject of several projects and government schemes to make them agriculturally viable.

“It is absolutely not possible to level the entire ravines and make them agriculturally suitable as the soil here is sandy and loose. The more you cut them…the gorges deepen. At best small parcels could be