The National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (Nabard) has sanctioned an additional amount of Rs 238.69 crore to the state of Madhya Pradesh for the construction of 20 minor and one major irrigation projects by the water resource department, 25 bridge projects by the public works department, six major irrigation projects and a 3X5 mw small hydel power project of the Narmada Valley Development Authority.
According to government officials, Nabard has sanctioned Rs 35 lakh for a canal bed project of the Narmada Valley Development Authority to construct a power house which will produce 15 mw of power.
In addition, Nabard has also sanctioned Rs 109 lakh for various canals and distribution systems under the Rani Awantibai Sagar project.
The completion of these projects will provide additional irrigation of 65,165 hectares and the 3X5 mw small hydro electric power project will generate about 790,000 units of power per annum.
About 540 villages will be provided connectivity by the bridge projects. The total sanction in 2002-03 for various projects has gone up to Rs 494.91 crore.
An aggregate of Rs 2,066.49 crore has been sanctioned for various irrigation, rural roads, bridges and small hydel power projects and rural power transmission system improvement projects in the state since 1995-96.
Nabard has disbursed Rs 973.17 crore to the state government so far.
Implementation of these projects will generate employment in rural areas and will remove infrastructural bottlenecks coming in the way of overall development of the rural areas.
