VARANASI: Uttar Pradesh government will carry out artificial rainfall in drought-hit areas to help farmers facing losses due to deficit rainfall. The project will be undertaken in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur, using the indigenous technology developed by the institute.UP irrigation minister Dharmpal Singh said a fund of Rs 5.5 crore would be spent on the artificial rain over 1,000 sq km area.While talking to reporters in Varanasi on Tuesday, Singh said the project will start in Mahoba and will benefit farmers of Bundelkhand and other drought-hit regions. Among other reforms to tackle the irrigation crisis, Singh said UP will get 22% of water from Kane river under the inter-state river water sharing agreement."The state government is working on river restoration on a war footing. As many as eight rivers - including Varuna, Gomti, Arel, Srot, Sai, Tamsa, Manorama and Ami - have been identified for restoration. Work is on for Gomti and Varuna," Singh added.The minister instructed engineers of the irrigation department to complete the channelization of Varuna river and remove encroachments on the river bed. "Funds have been allocated and work has started on four pending irrigation projects on central Ganga canal, Saryu canal, Bansagar and Arjun project," Singh added.

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