Multi directional strategic approach is being laid down to utilise Narmada water , allocated to Madhya Pradesh. To provide irrigation facilities to the farmer of the state by completing major Narmada valley projects has been the priority of the state govt. This was informed by the Vice Chairman of the NVDA Mr. O.P.Rawat to the group of farmers of Barwani dist. who came to meet him in Indore. The farmers met to V.C. with the request to speed up the work of Indira Sagar & Omkareshwar projects canal network. Farmers expressed their view that irrigation from these two major irrigation projects of the valley is the only option before the farmers to come up from the poverty & make their life happy. O.P. rawat informed them that out of total 18.25 MAF(Million Acre feet) of Narmada water allocated to the state 11.35 MAF of water is to be utilised through construction of major irrigation projects in the valley. Till now 5 MAF of water utilisation projects have been completed. To achieve the goal before 2024 , a time line prescribed in narmada water dispute tribunal award , strategic approach is being laid down by Narmada Valley Development Authority.
Rawat informed that the approach is three-tier. At first tier, we are focusing to utilise maximum potential created by the completed projects. For this focus is laid down on command area developments of the projects. As a result Man & Jobat irrigation projects have started irrigating an area more than what was designed for these projects. The Man project with the irrigation potential of 15.000 hectare is watering an area of 17,000 hectare. Similarly,Jobat Irrigation project with 1948 hectare irrigation potential is irrigating 12,000 hectare. Focus is also laid down for the command area development of Indira Sagar & Omkareshwar irrigation projects. At another level,the work on ongoing projects has been put under close monitoring to yield time bound results. Ground staff failing to perform has been warned time to time. Mr. Rawat informed that a major cause of delay in bringing the new projects on ground was found to be great delay in completing various formalities at state and Govt. of India level. We have scanned the total process to find out the reasons of unwarranted delay. To make the process hurdle-free an advanced planning system is being introduced so that clearances from the Govt. Of India could be taken without delay.
Mr. Rawat informed that there are two major projects ,Upper narmada & Halone whose all pre-project formalities have been completed and work on these project may start in near future. The upper narmada project would create a potential of 18,000 hectare & halone project would create an irrigation potential of 12,000 hectare. An approach has been made to inform the rehabilitation provisions for project affected families into their local Baiga & Gondi dialects.