DHAKA: Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen Tuesday asked the deputy commissioners to ensure water supply in full flush for the farmers to irrigate their croplands during dry-season farming.

The minister gave the directives on the concluding day of a 3-day conference of the deputy commissioners in the city during which the district administration chiefs received latest directions on dos and don’ts from government leaders starting from the highest rungs.

The Water Resources Minister was the chief guest in the day’s session while State Minister for CHT Affairs Dipanakr Talukdar special guest.

Emerging from the conference, the minister told journalists that about 73 percent water for irrigation is lifted from under the ground using traditional methods.

“The rest 27 percent will be collected by constructing dams to ensure 100 percent water. The DCs have been advised to take necessary steps in this regard,” he said.

The minister also informed that food production would increase 1.5 times if cent-percent water could be ensured for irrigating the croplands.

Issues on constructing a sluice gate in Sandwip, re-excavation of canals and water reservoirs under irrigation project, increasing navigability on the waterways in Laxmipur, Bhola and Barisal through dredging and policy formulation on appointing ‘karbari’ in the CHT region also came up for discussion in the winding-up session.

BDST : 1603 HRS, JULY 27, 2010