BHOPAL: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid the foundation stone for an ambitious micro irrigation scheme Narmada-Parvati Link project, estimated to cost Rs 3,415 crore, in Sehore district on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, Chouhan said that after removing the state from Bimaru (laggard) tag, he wanted to make Madhya Pradesh the most prosperous state in the country."Congress left behind a Bimaru state where there were no roads, electricity and water for the public. Power supply used to make headlines, but in BJP rule power cut for one hour is a big news. I turned the Bimaru state into a developing state and later, a developed state. Now, I want to make people wealthy and transform it into most 'prosperous state’ in the country", said Chouhan while addressing a kisan rally during the launch of Narmada-Parvati river link project.Chouhan said that the micro irrigation project will bring prosperity in the region and fulfil the promise made by the BJP government to provide Narmada water in Sehore district. The Congress had refused to take up the project and termed it as impossible. But, the BJP government made the impossible possible, claimed the chief minister."The erstwhile Congress government failed to supply power and turned the green fields dry. I transformed the drought fields into green belt by providing water for irrigation and unabated power supply. This is the basic difference between the BJP and the Congress,” said Chouhan.The announcement of Narmada-Parvati link project was followed with the success of Narmada-Kshipra-Simhastha Link Project, which was lauded all over the country. In the first and second phase of the project, about 32.04 cusecs water will be lifted up to 295 meter height from the Indira Sagar reservoir.The first pumping station will be constructed near Dharampuri village of Kannod tehsil. From this pumping station, water through other three pumping stations will be released in junction structure to be constructed at Singarcholi village of Ashta tehsil. "A total of one lakh hectare land of 187 villages of Ashta, Jawar and Icchawar tehsils of Sehore district will be irrigated under the scheme. As per the estimate, 144 M.W. electricity will be consumed on water lifting. The estimated cost of the first and second phase of the Narmada-Parvati Link is Rs 3,415,30 lakh," said the officials.The special feature of the scheme is that 20 meter pressurised water through pipeline will be made available to farmers on each 2.5 hectare area. This will help farmers avail benefit of micro irrigation system. Those villages and farms of Sehore district, which are situated at high ground geographically and are deprived of canal irrigation will get benefit of irrigation by this scheme, they added.In his address, the chief minister also highlighted welfare schemes for farmers, poor and students under `Jan Kalyan Yojana' (Sambal scheme). He said apart from poor, students, labourers, daily wagers and all sections of unorganised sectors must avail the scheme. Chouhan also reiterated the fixed tariff and tariff waiver schemes and urged the people to avail the benefit.

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