JAIPUR: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot approved Rs 2,500 crore for the construction of upper high-level canal from Mahi project in Banswara district and Rs 129.19 crore for strengthening of Haridev Joshi canal and its distribution system on Friday.
Gehlot also gave the nod to include 121 additional villages in the command area under this project which is crucial for the development of tribal areas. With this project, irrigation facility will now be available in the 41,903-hectare area of 338 villages of Banswara, Bagidaura, Anandpuri, Sajjangarh, Kushalgarh, and Gangadtalai tehsils of Banswara district. This will help elevate the social status and standard of living of the farmers in the area.
Under the project a 105km-long canal will be constructed, discharge of which would be around 20 cusecs. The entire area under the project will be irrigated through the pressure-based pipeline with the help of a sprinkler system. This will help store water and ensure ample quantity for irrigation. The work of land acquisition and other statutory clearances for the project are in progress.
Chief minister had announced the upper high-level canal project in the Budget 2022-23. The construction of the upper high-level canal out of the Mahi project was announced by the previous government in 2018, but the works never took off.
