Madhya Pradesh

• 29 Mar 2023

Chantikheda, Dauri and Bahuti Canal Project Got Approval

Why in News?

On March 28, 2023, the Chantikheda Major Irrigation Project of the Water Resources Department was approved in the meeting of the Madhya Pradesh Council of Ministers. At the same time, in the 119th meeting of the Major Project Control Board, approval was given for the remaining construction work of Dauri Sagar Medium Project and Bahuti Canal Project.

Key points

• The Water Resources Department's Chantikheda, Dauri and Bahuti canal projects will create irrigation potential in 80-thousand-hectare area in the state.
• Chantikheda Mega Irrigation Project: The estimated cost of The Chantikheda Mega Irrigation Project in Sheopur district is Rs. 539 crores. Under the scheme, 67.88 MCM earthen dam construction and pipe canal are to be constructed. The project will 15 thousand irrigate 300-hectare area.
• Dauri Sagar Medium Project: The estimated cost of the proposed Dauri Sagar Medium Project in Satna is Rs 175 crore. Reservoir construction and pipe canal system will be constructed under the project. Irrigation facility will be available in about 7200-hectare area of Satna district from the project which will be completed in a period of 36 months.
• Bahuti Canal Project: The remaining construction work of Many Canals Project in Satna district is to be done. The many canal systems originate from the Bansagar reservoir, which will irrigate of area of Rewa and Satna districts 65 thousand hectares. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 351 crore 48 lakh 80 thousand.

Forest Biomass Mapping Work Started by MAPCAST and Forest Department

Why in News?

On March 28, 2023, Dr. GD Bairagi, Senior Principal Scientist, Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (MAPCAST) informed that setting a record in the field of science, MAPCAST, in collaboration with the Forest Department, has mapped forest biomass in order to innovate. has started the work.

Key points

• The special thing is that the results from this mapping done by MAPCAST will be calibrated and validation (Milan) from NISAR satellite data launched in January 2024. This satellite is part of the NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) project launched under the joint auspices of NASA and ISRO.
• Senior Principal Scientist Dr. GD Bairagi said that mainly two bands L and S are being sent to the satellite. The data obtained from a one-hectare plot will be matched through the L band sensor of the satellite. It will be useful for forest biomass assessment for Madhya Pradesh. Now the mapping of biomass will also be able to be checked through satellite.
• Dr. Bairagi said that this work is being done by the team of Mapcast and ISRO. Narmadapuram district has been identified for mapping of forest biomass. Here mapping work will be done permanently on 10 plots of one hectare. Physical biomass mapping will be done once in a year on permanent plots. In this, biomass will be extracted by measuring the height, thickness, count of branches etc. of the tree.
• Dr. Bairagi said that the result obtained from this project will enable mapping of forest biomass through satellite, which will be used for forest and environment protection.

Agriculture Minister Handed Over the Award to the Chief Minister

Why in News?

On March 28, 2023, Madhya Pradesh's Farmers-Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Kamal Patel handed over the award received by Madhya Pradesh for the Farm Gate App in Delhi to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Key points

• It is noteworthy that Madhya Pradesh has been awarded the 20th CSI-SIG e-Governance Award-2022 by the Computer Society of India for the Form Gate app in the project category of state governments.
• This app is an Android based application. It can be downloaded by the farmer on his Android mobile for free. With this, the farmer has been able to sell his produce from his house, barn, warehouse as per his wish.
• Farmers have got the freedom to bring their produce to the market and sell it at their own price as well as sitting at home. Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country to do so. The said system has been highly appreciated by the Government of India.
• The M.P Farm Gate App, operated in the Agricultural Produce Market Committees of Madhya Pradesh, was started in 8 mandis of the state, Bhopal, Harda, Indore, Dewas, Guna, Sagar, Jabalpur and Satna, as a pilot from August 1, 2022, through an Android app. Also, Ujjain Mandi has been included in the pilot scheme from September 27, 2022. MP. Farm Gate App is being operated in all the 259 Agricultural Produce Market Committees of Madhya Pradesh.
• 64 lakh quintals of various agricultural produce have been sold by 12981 farmers using the MP Farm Gate app. Direct purchase from farmers from farm gate was earlier done in April 2021 through Souda-Patrak portal. Gradually this app is being used by most of the farmers. So far, up to 16 percent arrivals have been made in the market premises by using this app.