Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara: Minor Irrigation department,Bhojpur district, is planning to improve irrigation facilities in the district and to achieve this goal, it has sent a proposal of Rs 125 crore to the Chief Engineer, Minor Irrigation Department, Patna, for his approval in the current fiscal. The proposals include 252 new borings at an estimated cost of Rs 75 crore and construction of ahar, pyeen and ponds at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
At least 52 bigha of government land has been acquired for construction of ahar, pyeen and ponds at Dev, Savana and Sikarhatta villages under Tarari block in Bhojpur district. Fiftyfour karahas will also be constructed at a cost of Rs 28 lakh and a proposal to this effect has also been sent to the headquaters.
Executive Engineer, Minor Irrigation, Shambhu Rai, said that the department had sent proposal for construction of four lift irrigation schemes at four places in Bhojpur district. He said that two lift irrigations will be constructed at Ramdihara and one each at Kaura and Kosandihara villages. He said much water is destroyed during rainy season and to tap the water, four ‘chilkas’ will also be made at different places in the district. He said that two chilkas will be made at Bahuara and one each at Bahuara and Khudara villages.
Rai said that the department was making every effort to overcome the problems of irrigation in Bhojpur district. He further said that the department is crippled due to shortage of employees and added that 172 out of 200 posts of operators were lying vacant and a letter in this regard has also been sent to the department.