An amount of Rs 77.51 crore has been incurred on nine centrally sponsored schemes of Command Area Development (CAD) department till ending March 2015 covering 36148 hectares of cultivable command area in Kashmir division while Rs 102.88 crore have been utilized by the department for repairs and other works on Ranbir Canal and New Pratap Canal in Jammu.This information was given in a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Minister for Agriculture Mr Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura convened to discuss and review the ongoing projects of CAD in the State.The meeting was informed that the proposal for new schemes including Pargawal Canal project, Udhampur Cluster canal, Rajouri Cluster canal project, Kishtwar Cluster Canal project and Ramban Cluster Canal projects for Jammu Division and Arapath, Rambiara Romshi, Lar Sukhnag, Devsar, Ningli-Amargarh and Shali Ganga Doodganga for Kashmir Division were submitted to Government of India for inclusion and release of centre share under Command Area Development and Water Management (CAD&WM) schemes. These schemes aimed to cover a cultivable command area of 21651 hectares and 121379 hectares respectively.It was further informed that 6 projects are going under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in Jammu region and 4700 hectares of cultivable command area are to be covered at an estimated cost of Rs 10.08 crore.
Addressing the meeting, the Minister said the aim of the department is to cover the un-irrigated land to make it cultivatable adding that the need of the hour is to make the State self-sufficient in agriculture production. He instructed for achieving the fixed targets in full and ensuring that the benefits of the centrally sponsored schemes reach the deserving farmers well in time.The Minister directed the officers of Command Area Development to work with dedication and complete all ongoing projects in a time-bound manner and ensure judicious use of funds. He also asked them to follow up the projects that are in pipeline. Mr. Hanjura asked them to work for the welfare and betterment of the farmers as the Government is committed to upgrade and improve the living standards of the people.