Land and Water Conservation Department Minister Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar said that financial and technical assistance is being provided for the projects of underground pipeline system and micro irrigation (drip & Sprinkler) irrigation system to ensure efficient use of available canal/ground water for irrigation of farmers' fields of the state.
These modern technologies save water from 20 percent to 75 percent. This was stated by Land and Water Conservation Minister Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar today during the on going budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha while replying to the call attention notice brought by MLAs Kulwant Singh Pandori and Manjit Singh Bilaspur.
Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar said that 90 percent financial assistance on the actual cost of common projects of laying underground pipelines from farmers' fields and canals and 50 per cent subsidy on individual underground pipeline projects from tubewells (maximum Rs. 22,000/- per hectare) is being given.
He said that during the current financial year 2022-23, financial and technical assistance is being given to the projects of underground pipeline system for irrigation of 321 acres of farmers in Halka Mahal Kalan.
Apart from this, 80 per cent subsidy (10 per cent additional subsidy to small/marginal/scheduled caste/women farmers) is being given to farmers for micro irrigation (drip and Sprinkler) systems on farmers' fields.
The Cabinet Minister said that during the current year 2022-23, financial and technical assistance is being given to farmers on 37 acres of land and micro irrigation system projects in Halka Mahal Kalan.
A new scheme has been launched by the Department of Land and Water Conservation to recharge the ground water resources by draining the rainwater collected on the roofs of government/institutional buildings in the state under which Roof-top during the current year 2022-23.
Rainwater harvesting and artificial recharging projects are being constructed.
He said that there is an incentive to build such a project at Shaheed Bibi Kiranjit Kaur Memorial Government Senior Secondary School, Mahal Kalan also. In addition, it is clarified that the supply of canal water to the farmers for irrigation in the state and recharging of excess canal water to the ground by boring into the ground is the responsibility of the Water Resources Department.
He said that due to the presence of fertilizers, pesticides and other polluting substances in the rain water collected in the fields and other empty places, it is not advisable to corrode and pour this water into the lower water sources because of this there is a risk of pollution of the underground water sources.