Guwahati, July 28 (IANS) Assam Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Pijush Hazarika on Tuesday reviewed the state’s irrigation expansion plans and directed officials to expedite relief measures for farmers affected by the recent floods in four Upper Assam districts, officials said.
Chairing two separate review meetings at Janata Bhawan in Dispur, Hazarika assessed the progress of major initiatives undertaken by the Irrigation and Agriculture Departments, with a focus on strengthening irrigation infrastructure and ensuring timely assistance to flood-hit farmers.
During the review of the Irrigation Department, the Minister took stock of efforts to secure externally aided projects, including the proposed Assam Integrated Resilient and Reliable Irrigation for Growth and Agriculture Transformation project.
He instructed officials to accelerate the process for implementation of the project to modernise the state’s irrigation network and expand assured irrigation coverage.
Officials told the meeting that Assam has an ultimate irrigation potential of 27.46 lakh hectares, and the proposed initiatives are aimed at improving water management and enhancing agricultural productivity across the state.
In a separate meeting with senior Agriculture Department officials, Hazarika reviewed relief measures for farmers affected by floods in Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat districts.
He directed officials to ensure the timely distribution of paddy seeds and seedlings (kathiya) to farmers so that cultivation is not delayed after floodwaters recede.
The Minister also instructed the department to facilitate the prompt disbursal of benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to all eligible farmers who suffered crop losses.
To strengthen monitoring of relief operations, Hazarika directed the senior-most Secretary of the Agriculture Department to visit the flood-affected districts on Wednesday and oversee the implementation of assistance measures on the ground.
The Minister also announced that he would personally visit the affected districts after the conclusion of the ongoing Budget Session of the Assam Assembly to review the situation and assess the progress of relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to the farming community, Hazarika said that sustained investments in irrigation infrastructure, coupled with timely relief and rehabilitation measures, would help strengthen Assam’s agricultural sector and improve its resilience against natural disasters.
–IANS
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