Madhya Pradesh has launched a ₹2,387-crore irrigation project for 260 villages in Dhar and Jhabua, targeting 57,422 hectares and 72,000 farmers.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated the Narmada-Jhabua-Petlawad-Thandla-Sardarpur micro-lift irrigation project, which is expected to bring irrigation coverage to 57,422 hectares and benefit around 72,000 farmers across 260 villages.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated a ₹2,387.60-crore micro-lift irrigation project on October 24, aimed at expanding irrigation facilities across 260 villages in Dhar and Jhabua districts. The Narmada-Jhabua-Petlawad-Thandla-Sardarpur project is expected to bring irrigation water to 57,422 hectares of agricultural land and benefit approximately 72,000 farmers, according to reports of the inauguration.

The project is intended to improve access to irrigation in areas where farming is vulnerable to inadequate rainfall and limited water availability. By extending irrigation infrastructure, the initiative aims to support agricultural production across parts of western Madhya Pradesh.

₹317.86 Crore Transferred Under Crop Insurance Scheme

During the event, the state government also transferred ₹317.86 crore to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The amount was reported as financial assistance for farmers under the crop insurance scheme.

Yadav reviewed the irrigation project's route map and inaugurated other development works during the programme. Reports said 188 development projects were also inaugurated or taken up as part of the event.

Irrigation Expansion Remains a State Target

Addressing the gathering, Yadav said Madhya Pradesh was working to expand its irrigated agricultural area. He cited an increase in irrigation coverage from approximately 7.5 lakh hectares in 2002-03 to 40 lakh hectares by 2023, and said the figure had reached 60 lakh hectares over the preceding two-and-a-half years.

The state government has set a target of expanding irrigation coverage to 100 lakh hectares, he said. These figures were presented by the chief minister at the event.

The new project is part of the state's broader effort to make irrigation water available to more farming communities. However, the actual benefits to individual farmers will depend on the project's implementation, water availability and the delivery of irrigation to the targeted agricultural areas.

PM MITRA Park Also Highlighted

The chief minister also referred to the proposed PM MITRA textile park in Dhar, which is planned as an integrated manufacturing hub covering multiple stages of textile production, from cotton processing and yarn to fabric and ready-made garments.

Yadav said the park could benefit around six lakh cotton-growing farmers in the Nimar-Malwa region and create employment opportunities for approximately three lakh people. These are projected benefits cited by the chief minister; their realisation will depend on the project's development, investment and employment generation.

The proposed textile park and the irrigation project address two related aspects of the regional economy: agricultural water access and opportunities to process agricultural produce through manufacturing.

Roads, Bridges and Healthcare Projects Announced

The programme also included development works in Dhar district involving roads and bridges, education and healthcare infrastructure. According to the reports, four bridges worth ₹25 crore, a school building costing ₹15 crore and a 50-bed hospital were among the projects highlighted.

The government also announced the foundation-laying of 35 additional projects with a reported combined cost of ₹188 crore. Yadav said Dhar would receive a medical college in the future, although a specific opening date was not provided in the report.

The chief minister also referred to plans to develop the Amka-Jhamka Mata site as a pilgrimage destination under the Shri Krishna Pathey Yojana.

Project Coverage in Dhar and Jhabua

Women and Child Development Minister Nirmala Bhuria said the irrigation project would provide Narmada water to areas including Jhabua, Petlawad, Thandla and Sardarpur. She also acknowledged that some areas had not been covered and said efforts would be made to include them.

Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said the project could help farmers grow more crops during the year by improving access to water from the Narmada and Mahi river systems. The prospect of three crops annually was presented as an expected benefit, rather than a guaranteed outcome for every farmer.

The key measure of the project's impact will be how effectively irrigation reaches the targeted 57,422 hectares and whether farmers experience more reliable water access over successive agricultural seasons.

Source - https://english.dainikjagranmpcg.com