Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said that the state government had submitted Rs 260-crore proposal to the Centre for the construction of groundwater pumping sites for irrigation purposes at different parts of the State.
He was speaking at the Anganphou Hunba (Sowing of First Crop Paddy) programme organised by Arapti Urup Farmers’ Association under the supervision of Keirao AC MLA L Rameshwor at Arapti Mayai Leikai Tanakha Pat in Imphal East district on February 13.
Spreading the idea of making Manipur a self-reliant state in food grains production, the CM along with MLAs L Rameshwor and Md Abdul Nasir sowed the first handful of paddy seeds to mark the beginning of farming first crop paddy for this year. Farming of RCM-12 rice variety would be done in around 20 hectares of Urup and Arapti while wheat would be grown in around 10 hectares.
Speaking at the occasion, the Biren said that the state can save a huge amount of money giving a boost to the economy if Manipur can reduce import of food grains and other essential items from other states. The CM also mentioned that there is a need to encourage using of items produced in the State so that money is not drained out.
Stating that proper irrigation is necessary to enhance agriculture and horticulture produces, the chief minister said that Rs 260-crore proposal had been submitted to the Centre for construction of groundwater pumping sites. He also said that around new 250 check dams would be constructed and RLI schemes located at different parts of the state would be made fully functional.
