The Soil Conservation Department of Punjab won the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) ‘Most Consistent Performing Department’ and the ‘RIDF-21 Most Impactful Project’ awards on January 21. On behalf of the Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Dharminder Sharma, Chief Conservator of Soils, Punjab, received the award.
With an aim to rejuvenate the agriculture production system by reclaiming the seasonal and water-logged areas, Punjab’s soil department installed a project providing assured irrigation water to waterlogged areas in south-western Punjab sanctioned under RIDF 21. The worst affected South-western districts include Muktsar, Fazilka and Ferozepur. The project assured conservation of water, proper irrigation and also helped in improving the yield and quality of farm produce, especially in such districts.
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NABARD approved the project at a total cost of Rs 60 crore including 10 per cent beneficiary share and 90 per cent RIDF project share. The project that was approved in 2015-16 is expected to be completed by June this year.
In Muktsar, Fazilka and Ferozpur, over 150 community, individual lift or gravity-based underground pipeline system projects have been laid from nearby irrigation sources.
