Shivraj Singh Chouhan lays foundation stone of Narmada Link Irrigation Project

ALIRAJPUR (MP): MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid the foundation stone of the Maa Narmada Link Alirajpur Lift Irrigation Project at Jhadana village, with an eye on a Lok Sabha by-poll likely to be held along with Bihar elections for the Ratlam-Jhabua seat.

Chouhan led by more than six Hindu priests worshipped and sang hymns praising the holy river Maa Narmada, considered as the life line of Madhya Pradesh, before laying the foundation stone of the Maa Narmada Link Alirajpur Lift Irrigation Project.

The Ratlam-Jhabua seat by-poll was necessitated due to the death of BJP MP Dilip Singh Bhuria.

The Rs 582-crore project to be constructed by Narmada Valley Development Authority would irrigate 55,000 hectares in this tribal dominated district which has creaky infrastructure.

"The project will prove to be a boon to the district which lacked irrigation facility. It will benefit tribals immensely," Chouhan said, adding he wants to turn farming into a profitable venture.

It is noteworthy that agriculture is the main occupation of people in Alirajpur district which came into existence in year 2008 after being separated from Jhabua district.

The district has 1,75,000 hectares of land, though at present, only 36,000 hectares are irrigated through wells and small water bodies, he said.

On completion, the project will benefit 46 villages of Sondwa, Alirajpur, Jobat, Bhabhra and Katthiwara tehsils, he said.

Due to the project's 35,000 hectare potential, the total annual irrigated area in the district will rise to 55,000 hectares, he said.

Narmada Valley Development Authority has set a target to complete the project in 36 months, he said.