MGNREGA helped increase food-grain production in Burdwan: District Magistrate Saumitra Mohan

BURDWAN: Various schemes initiated under the MGNREGA programme here has led to a significant rise in food-grain production and improvement in ecology in coal mine areas in the district, a top official has said.

There has been significant rise in food-grain production in the district which is regarded as the rice bowl of Bengal due to the initiatives taken under the schemes of the MGNREGA, Burdwan District Magistrate Saumitra Mohan told PTI.

The initiatives included conversion of mono-crop land into multi-crop one through increased irrigation potential, flood protection schemes, land development and soil treatment.

This financial year, there has been a jump of 2 lakh tonne of rice in the district from 12 lakh to 14 lakh tonnes.

"Of this, 80,000 tonnes is because of our MGNREGA efforts," Mohan said.

The schemes have also improved the ecology in coal mine areas and made them safer for people by covering abandoned pits in the district which has a huge coal deposit, he said.

Through 11 such schemes around 21.51 acres have been developed in coal mines of the district, he said adding that around 22 schemes have been used for re-excavation of water bodies and water harvesting.

For improvement of social forestry, four schemes have been undertaken covering 6.25 acres.

Social forestry means the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren lands with the purpose of helping in the environmental, social and rural development.

Five schemes have been taken under the MGNREGA here to improve rural connectivity covering 6.25 acres, he said.

Also, the district administration has spent Rs 1.49 crore under 42 schemes in this financial year till February, generating 79,675 man-days, Mohan said.

Under the MGNREGA programme, one member of each rural family is entitled to 100 days work per year.