Chandigarh: NABARD has sanctioned RIDF loan of Rs.125 crore for tackling water logging and flood problems in Muktsar and Fazilka districts of Punjab. Shri Naresh Gupta, Chief General Manager, Punjab Regional Office of NABARD stated this here today.
The project envisages the renovation/modernization of existing drainage system, construction of new drains, construction of lift drains, subsurface drains and gravity flow drains in the project area with an aim to improve the drainage system; with the objective of reducing the period of evacuation of storm water from the farmers fields and enhancing fertility of land. The project would reduce the seepage of rain and flood water into the saline ground water regime due to improved drainage. It will also improve the environment of the area and check health hazards.
In all, 81 existing/ new drains have been sanctioned to evacuated excess rain and flood waters from the area. Once completed, the project is expected to benefit 3.55 lakh ha of farm land of the people residing in 255 villages spread across the 2 districts of the PunjabState. With the sanction of this project, cumulative sanction to the State of Punjab during 2013-14 under RIDF has reached at Rs.599 crore for improving critical infrastructure in rural areas.