Raipur: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has directed officials of the Water Resources Department to expedite the completion of all ongoing and long-pending irrigation projects across Chhattisgarh, with special focus on those pending since before 2015. The announcement came during a high-level review meeting held at the Mahanadi Bhavan (Mantralaya), aimed at evaluating the progress of crucial water infrastructure works in the state.
Timely Execution Key to Boosting Agricultural Output: CM Sai
Emphasizing the centrality of agriculture to Chhattisgarh’s economy, CM Vishnu Deo Sai asserted that water is a fundamental requirement for farmers, and any delays in irrigation projects directly harm their livelihoods. He added that swift and strategic execution of such projects would expand the state’s irrigated area and ensure better water access to farmers—leading to enhanced agricultural productivity and rural income growth.
“Chhattisgarh is a state of farmers. Incomplete water projects delay the benefits intended for them. Timely completion is crucial to boost irrigation capacity and uplift farmer incomes,” the Chief Minister said.
Top Officials Present Detailed Project Status
During the meeting, Water Resources Secretary Rajesh Sukumar Toppo presented a comprehensive PowerPoint report outlining the current status of various irrigation schemes under implementation across the state. The report covered technical, financial, and physical progress on each project.
CM Sai instructed the department to adopt a concrete, time-bound strategy to address bottlenecks, particularly for projects stuck in various stages of execution for more than a decade.
Focus on Pre-2015 Pending Projects
The Chief Minister placed particular emphasis on irrigation projects that have been pending since before 2015, stating that these should be completed on a war footing. Their prolonged delay not only affects irrigation capacity but also reflects poorly on the delivery of essential services to farmers, he noted.
Senior Officials Attend Review Meeting
The high-level meeting was attended by:
- Water Resources Minister Kedar Kashyap
- Principal Secretary to CM Subodh Kumar Singh
- Secretaries to CM P. Dayanand and Rahul Bhagat
- Joint Secretary Dr. Ravi Mittal
- Chief Engineer, Water Resources Dept. Indrajeet Uike
Along with other senior engineers and departmental officers
The officials assured the Chief Minister of intensified efforts and improved monitoring mechanisms to achieve the desired pace of execution.
