SHILLONG: The Centre has given the go-ahead to the Meghalaya water resources department to initiate the surface minor irrigation scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana to irrigate farmlands in the state.
The vision of the scheme is “Har Khet Ko Pani”, which is to enhance the physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation.
Informing this, state water resources minister, Metbah Lyngdoh said the department recently received a letter from the Centre notifying the approval of Rs 206crore under the surface minor irrigation scheme of PMKSY.
Lyngdoh said the Centre gave its approval for the scheme as per the proposal sent by the water resources department.
The minister also informed that the funding pattern for the scheme is 90:10.
Apart from Meghalaya, the rest of the beneficiary states of the scheme are the other northeastern states including Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Lyngdoh, the central government would pay the amount in three installments spread over three financial years. In the financial year 2018-19, the state will receive Rs 63crore.
He also informed that the scheme would have to be completed by March 2021.
Lyngdoh, who also holds the tourism portfolio, said the state government expected an assistance of up to Rs 300crore which was proposed to the Centre for various schemes.
