BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday asked the district collectors to ensure 35 per cent irrigation in all blocks of the State.Reviewing the drought preparedness on the second day of the collectors’ conference here, the Chief Minister said they should review irrigation-related works on a fixed day every month and sort out all problems in the district-level implementation and monitoring committee.Naveen said district-wise target on each scheme including deep bore well, renovation, restoration and repair (RRR), lift irrigation points, mega lift points and check dams have to be achieved to assure irrigation.The Chief Minister said drought-prone areas in each district have to be identified and brought under irrigation by multiple interventions so as to ward off drought. Stating that tackling drought is one of the priority areas of the State Government, Naveen asked the collectors of Nuapada, Kalahandi, Balangir, Sonepur, Boudh and Deogarh to pay special attention to the problem.The Government has decided to sink about 50,000 bore wells covering an ayacut area of 2.5 lakh acres. Under the bore well scheme, a beneficiary can avail of a complete bore well project costing ` 2.5 lakh each with 90 per cent subsidy. The project includes a bore well, a pumping unit and dedicated power line having a transformer in cluster. The beneficiary has to invest ` 20,000.Besides, the check dam scheme has been implemented in different blocks on a pilot basis. The dams will conserve water at the end of the monsoon for irrigation, drinking and groundwater recharging. The projects will be handed over to the pani panchayats/farmers groups on completion for proper management.The Chief Minister also underscored the need for transparency in the implementation of the newly-launched Mamata scheme for pregnant women, the mid-day meal scheme and other feeding programmes. Naveen said the key to successful implementation of different feeding programmes is regular monitoring by the district collectors. He asked them to focus on take home ration component also and see that quality food material is supplied. Fund flow to the anganwadi centre level and payments to the self-help groups (SHGs) would also be ensured on time, he said.Naveen announced that 10,000 new anganwadi centres would be constructed this year. He said the site of the new buildings should be within the school compound or at least near the schools. He asked the collectors to complete the building construction at the earliest.
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