Keen To Replicate Telangana Irrigation Model: Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab must effectively utilise river waters to ease the pressure on groundwater due to paddy cultivation.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Thursday that his state's irrigation system will be modelled after Telangana's successful one in order to replenish groundwater and properly channelise river water.
According to an IANS report, Bhagwant Singh Mann, who is on a day-long visit to Telangana to study some irrigation projects in the state said that Punjab must effectively utilise river waters to ease the pressure on groundwater due to paddy cultivation.
Bhagwant Singh told reporters in Siddipet district that the groundwater level in some parts of Punjab had depleted to alarming levels due to the overuse of groundwater resources for growing paddy. He said 3,800 litres of water have been drawn from the ground to grow one kilogram of paddy. "We have reached a situation where 80 percent of the places have gone into a dark zone," he said.
He said that though Punjab is a state of rivers, the state's canal system was built before partition, and this needs to be upgraded. Stating that Punjab is number one in the country in paddy production, Bhagwant Singh said his government was taking steps for crop diversification. Farmers were reluctant to switch to alternative crops, though, because the Center does not provide a minimum support price (MSP) for crops other than paddy and wheat.
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The Punjab Chief Minister praised Telangana for creating a good groundwater recharge system and declared that he would take a lot of knowledge with him when he returned to Punjab. He was impressed with Telangana's success in groundwater recharge and building check-dams.
Bhagwant Singh visited Kondapochamma Sagar reservoir, built as part of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS). The officials of the irrigation department briefed him about the various aspects of the mega project. With the help of maps and charts, the officials explained to him how the water from Godavari River is being lifted. Bhagwant Mann sought information on how the entire KLIS system operated and was impressed by the authorities' planning and implementation.
He also visited check-dams constructed at Erravelly to understand the artificial recharge structures developed by the Irrigation department.
(With IANS inputs)
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