Bhopal
The country’s first very ambitious and multi-purpose Ken-Betwa River Linking National Project will help crops flourish in the Bundelkhand region and migration will stop. Residents of many villages there, who used to migrate to nearby states in search of work due to water shortage, will no longer have to leave their homes and villages. If there is enough water in the fields, they will be able to harvest crops throughout the year. This will be no less than the fulfillment of a dream for the farmers and for this they express their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav.
Munna Asati, a farmer of Satai village, says that his area is suffering from drought due to less rainfall and due to this the farmers there are hardly able to harvest a crop. In the nearby village Kunderpura, which is a tribal dominated village, 90% of the residents go to Delhi, Haryana and Punjab in search of work. With water coming to the village, they will not only be able to do farming but will also be able to live in their homes, take care of their parents and educate their children.
Farmers Baldu Kevat, Ramnarayan Dubey of village Simra Panihar and Rameshwar Ahirwar of Hakimpura say that currently they are able to harvest only one crop in a year due to lack of water. If the fields get water from the project, they will be able to harvest three crops in a year. Having sufficient income will enable the family to be looked after properly.
Farmers Brij Gopal Awasthi of village Tikri, Prakash Pandit of village Jatkara, Asaram Sahu and Bhavani Deen Mishra of village Brijpura say that due to less rainfall the ground water level in the area has also gone down very low. If you dig a well, water is found at a very low level. After a few days of rain, all the stop dams here dry up, due to which no means are available for irrigation. In such a situation, farming becomes very difficult. Farming is done somehow, but the production is very less. Ken-Betwa project will increase the ground water level and water for irrigation will also be available from various water sources. Animal husbandry will also increase due to availability of green fodder and water for animals.
Khajuraho farmers Babulal Patel and Bihari Lal Patel say that there are many tourist places in Khajuraho, but due to lack of water, tourism is also affected. With the completion of Ken-Betwa project, tourism sector will also increase. Employment and business will also increase. With the availability of water, industries will also be set up in the surrounding areas.
