West Bengal takes up project to provide water for irrigation: Mamata

Kolkata: In a bid to conserve surface and rain water to provide round the year assured irrigation, the West Bengal government has taken up a project to construct around 800 check dams and other water harvesting structures, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

"Our government has taken up an environment-friendly scheme named 'Jalatirtha' to conserve surface and rain water to provide round the year assured irrigation to the people by construction of Check Dams, Water Harvesting Structures and Surface Flow Minor Irrigation Schemes," Banerjee said in a statement.

"The Scheme taken up in four districts of Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia and Paschim Medinipur will help to prevent soil erosion, recharge ground water aquifers, improve production and productivity of agriculture, fishery, duck rearing and animal feeding etc," Banerjee stated.

Banerjee said around 800 check dams and other water harvesting structures would be constructed to facilitate irrigation of nearly 32,000 hectares in the state.

"Around 800 structures like Check Dams, Water Harvesting Structures and Surface Flow Minor Irrigation Schemes will be constructed under Jalatirtha, which will help irrigate an area of nearly 32,000 hectares benefiting around 4,000 farmers. Total cost of the Scheme will be around Rs 500 crore," she said.