With the technical assistance and investment support from the World Bank, the Centre has given its approval to Rs 5,369 crore Jal Vikas Marg Project for capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of National Waterway-1. The project that is expected to get completed by March 2023 falls in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The major components of the project are fairway development, construction of the multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia along with construction of inter-modal terminals at Kalughat and Ghazipur and construction of a new navigation lock at Farakka.
The National Green Tribunal has ordered the states--Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-- to identify specific areas in each district for the collection and storage of crop residue. The tribunal has also directed these states to provide detailed information on the mode of utilisation of the stubble that is generated in the fields. In view of the air pollution that shrouded north India recently, the tribunal has reprimanded the states over not setting up biomass plants and thermal power plants to utilise the agricultural residue.
Under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), NABARD has sanctioned Rs 1301.7 million to the Odisha government towards the implementation of 17,322 lift irrigation projects including borewells, shallow tube wells, digging wells and micro river lifts. The loan will benefit nearly 40,000 farmers in the state by providing assured irrigation to about 36,440 hectares of agricultural land. NABARD has also sanctioned loan for 14 rural bridge projects that is going to benefit about 4.56 lakh population across 322 villages of the state.
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has ordered the irrigation department to implement integrated solar-based micro irrigation scheme in all districts across the state. For this, a committee has also been constituted under the chairmanship of Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) chairman. The committee would work out a comprehensive strategy for the implementation of solar-based micro irrigation system in all districts. At present, such scheme worth Rs 24.65 crore is being implemented on a pilot basis in commands of 14 different canal outlets spread over 13 districts of the state.
The Punjab government has launched the farm loan waiver scheme that will be benefiting 47,000 farmers. To mark the launch of the scheme, the state's chief minister Amarinder Singh also handed over farm loan waiver certificates to 10 farmers from Mansa, Bathinda, Faridkot, Muktsar and Moga districts. The loan waiver process that would be completed in four phases will provide relief worth Rs 2,700 crore to 5.36 lakh farmers in the first phase.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from January 3 - 8, 2018. Also, read the news this week.