A detailed plan has been prepared for re-modelling of canal system across the entire state in view of Haryana government's commitment to making irrigation water available right up to the tail-ends of canals.
Haryana Irrigation Minister, O P Dhankar informed the State Assembly here that in this direction, lift irrigation projects worth Rs 143 crore have been started in southern parts of the State with NABARD's help.
Dhankar was replying to a question raised by INLD MLA, Parminder Singh Dhull, regarding desiltation of the Hansi branch canal during the Question Hour on the second and final day of the brief winter session of the Assembly today.
He said that the BJP government is carrying out the work of cleaning all canals on a priority basis.
Approval has been given for 10 projects worth Rs 30.45 crore, especially in the Julana Assembly constituency in Jind district.
The Irrigation Minister informed the House that a Rs 300-crore pilot project in the second phase of canal enhancement had been prepared under which enhancement of lift irrigation projects of Bhalot branch in Mahendergarh, Rewari, Jhajjar and Bhiwani district would be carried out.
Asked about supplying water to Badhda in Bhiwani district and various distributaries in the Loharu Assembly constituency by the Congress MLA, Kiran Choudhry, through a supplementary question, Dhankar said that there were a total of 112 tail-ends in Bhiwani district out of which water had been supplied to 78 tail-ends.
On the initiative of the present state government, water has been supplied to 270 tail-ends, and these include some tail-ends where water was never supplied in the last 20 years, he told the Congress MLA.
The Minister further informed the House that the
Irrigation Department would give compensation for crop damage due to water logging as a result of breaches in canals and drains at the rate of Rs 12,000 per acre on the pattern of the compensation given by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department at the time of floods and other natural calamities.
All Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers have been directed to submit regular reports to the headquarters on first the tanks at waterworks, then village ponds, and then the cusec capacity at which the canal flowed, he added.
To another question which was raised during the Question Hour, Haryana's Finance and Industries Minister, Abhimanyu, said that due to the alleged wrong policies pursued by the previous government, the state could not achieve as much industrial growth as it should have.
"Soon after coming to power, the present government brought out a white paper on the economic condition of the state, which revealed shocking facts," he told the House.
The Minister said the present government has implemented the new Enterprises Promotion Policy-2015, under which priority would be given to industrial development in those areas which were neglected by the previous governments.
He also said that the industrial growth rate kept declining continuously after 2006-07 and the incentive money ranging from Rs 150 crore to Rs 175 crore to be given for encouraging entrepreneurs is still pending.
The industrial growth rate was 8.2 per cent in 2005-06, 10.8 per cent in 2006-07, 6.2 per cent in 2007-08, 3.7 per cent in 2008-09, 12.1 per cent in 2009-10, 9.5 per cent in 2010-11, 6 per cent in 2011-12, 4.7 per cent in 2012-13, 2.6 per cent in 2013-14 and 5.9 per cent (provisional) in 2014-15, he informed.
The Industries Minister informed the House that the rate of economic growth remained low because no attention was paid to the micro, small and medium industries.
"In keeping with the spirit of the 'Make in India' scheme, these industries have been given priority in the new policy," he said.
To another question, Public Works Minister, Rao Narbir
Singh, said that during the first year, the present government has removed eight toll points out of the 24 toll points located on state highways.
He said this while replying to a question raised by MLA, Balwant Singh Sadhaura, regarding the removal of toll barrier from Sadhaura to Kala Amb.
Replying to a supplementary question regarding exemption from toll tax to former MLAs, Rao Narbir Singh informed the House that exemption could be provided through the Public Works (Building and Roads) Department, but the National Highway Authority falls under the Central Government.
"The vehicles of the persons who fall under exempted category are allowed to pass the toll points located on state highways on priority basis," he added.
