Srinagar, Mar 20: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday said that there was no delay in the establishment of the Mango Village at Jasrota area of Kathua district.
Responding to an unstarred question by MLA Rajiv Jasrotia, the government said that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project was received on March 31, 2018, and approved on April 26, 2018, under Government Order No. 71-Horti of 2018. The work commenced immediately after approval and was successfully completed by 2019-20.
To encourage farmers to adopt rainwater harvesting for irrigation, the government has introduced multiple initiatives. Farmers are being provided with a 50% subsidy for rooftop rainwater harvesting structures under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), with a maximum project cost of ₹1.50 lakh.
Under the MIDH and PDMC schemes, a 50% subsidy of ₹150 per cubic meter, up to ₹90,000, is also offered for water harvesting structures. Alongside financial assistance, the administration is conducting workshops, training programs, and awareness campaigns to educate farmers about the benefits of rainwater harvesting.
The government has also encouraged the adoption of low-cost techniques like rooftop harvesting and recharge pits to conserve water.
As part of ongoing efforts to improve irrigation facilities, 10 farmers in Kathua district have received subsidies amounting to ₹8.20 lakh in 2024-25 for installing portable Geo Tanks with a 20,000-liter capacity in their fields. These tanks help in storing rainwater, ensuring a stable water supply for agricultural needs.
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) is being actively implemented in Jasrota Constituency to enhance irrigation infrastructure and promote water conservation.
During 2024-25, the government disbursed ₹9.73 lakh in subsidies to 28 farmers for various irrigation interventions, including sprinkler irrigation, pipe/pre-cast distribution systems, shallow bore wells, water lifting devices, and drip irrigation to increase water efficiency and improve farm productivity.
Regarding procurement facilities, the government confirmed that a permanent procurement Mandi at Bagthali, Kathua, has been operational since October 2022, catering to both Kharif and Rabi crops.
