C’garh Govt takes farmers’ issues on priority: Baghel

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday said the entire team of the state government is engaged in addressing issues confronting the farmers for their betterment.

Baghel was virtually addressing the disbursal of land acquisition compensation amount to the farmers affected by the Kalma barrage.

An amount of Rs 22.78 crores was given to 314 farmers of Chandrapur area in Janjgir-Champa district, an official communication said.

The Chief Minister said the Kalma barrage has been built at a cost of Rs 377.42 crores on Mahanadi river between villages Kalma (Janjgir-Champa) and Bargaon (Raigarh).

The construction work began in February 2011 and was completed in March 2016. The construction affected 97.89 hectares of land belonging to 682 farmers of 13 villages in Janjgir-Champa district.

Baghel said the issue of land acquisition, pending for years, has been resolved by his government.

Water Resources Minister Ravindra Choubey said a mega lift irrigation project has been proposed by the Water Resources Department on both banks of the barrage. This water will be supplied to farmers in more than 15,000 hectares.