‘Lack of cooperation between Agriculture, Irrigation Depts’

SILCHAR, Aug 11: Asom Irrigation Minister Nurjamal Sarkar today admitted lack of cooperation between the Agriculture Department and Irrigation Department in Cachar and that made the farmers to suffer in the district. Talking to newsmen at Silchar today, Sarkar said though the district has 1.25 lakh hectares of cultivable land, only 11,711 hectares of land could be brought under irrigation network, which should have been more. After three days of extensive Barak Valley tour, Sarkar said both the Centre and the State Government laid importance on development of irrigation in flood-prone State. Sarkar said in Cachar district 42 new irrigation projects costing Rs 125.77 crore are under way and these projects will be able to water 11,711 hectares of land. Similarly in Karimganj district, 25 new projects costing Rs 80.38 crore have been taken up to bring 9,000 hectares of land under irrigation network, Sarkar said, adding that in Hailakandi district, 3,702 hectares of land would be covered by 13 new irrigation projects. All these projects are being constructed with Central funds in which the State’s share is 10 per cent. THE SENTINEL