District Development Commissioner Anantnag, Muneer ul Islam, today chaired District Level Implementation Committee (DLIC) meeting for the preparation of District Irrigation Plan under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) here at DC Office.Elaborating on the utility of PMKSY which is envisioned at optimal use water resources and increasing cultivable area under assured irrigation,the District Development Commissioner said the scheme aims at integration of water sources to enhance physical access of water for irrigation purposes besides preventing recurrence of floods and draught. He said that the scheme focuses on integration of water sources, development of rain-fed areas, using watershed approach towards water and soil conservation, water harvesting, regeneration of water by arresting run off and promotion of extension activities by providing livelihood. Funds under PMKSY will be utilized to take up important irrigation projects and completion of pending irrigation projects of the district, he added.
Calling for a collaborative effort by the concerned departments, the DDC said that every department has to put concerted effort for the successful implementation of PMKSY in the district, which will not only suffice the increased irrigational needs and reduce wastage but will also help to mitigate September 2014 like deluge.For the implementation of the PMKSY at the grassroot level, a District Irrigation Plan (DIP) will be formulated in the first phase, for which the District Development Commissioner devised 16 empowered committees at the Block Level, which will comprise representatives of every allied department and will be headed by Block Development Officer. The committees are tasked to survey the irrigation channels, identify new sources of water, aquifers at village, irrigated and cultivated area at village level in every block of the district.He further said that the District Irrigation Plan will be a comprehensive database which will provide valuable information to I&FC and other departments regarding the water resources of the district, their irrigated area, crop pattern and the vulnerability possessed by them in the low lying areas by using latest technological advances to map the existing water resources.
The District Development Commissioner emphasized on the fact that besides augmenting the conventional sources of water, Rainwater Harvesting and recharging Ground water should be the additional focal points of the PMKSY, which will be implemented in those areas of the district having minimal access to conventional channel irrigation system.Speaking on the occasion, the ADC, Muhammad Younis Malik informed the meeting that PMKSY consists of four major components, which includes the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, which focuses on faster completion of ongoing major and minor irrigation projects, PMKSY-Har Khet Ko Pani, which is envisioned at providing assured irrigation, PMKSY-Per Drop More Crop and Watershed development.The meeting was attended by the ADC, ACD, Chief Agriculture Officer, Exens of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Chief Horticulture Officer, BDOs of the district besides district officers of various departments.