The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs. 770 crores for the construction of two major irrigation projects in Jharkhand, aimed at boosting agricultural activities. These projects, located in Palamu and Giridih districts, are expected to provide irrigation to more than 21,000 hectares of land.
Announced under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for the 2024–25 fiscal year, the projects will play a significant role in enhancing rural infrastructure. According to S. K. Jahagirdar, Chief General Manager of NABARD’s Jharkhand Regional Office, the project in Palamu will provide irrigation through pipelines to 11,000 hectares across eight blocks. The Giridih project will cover 165 out of 197 villages in the Pirtand block, developing over 10,000 hectares of cultivable land.
These developments come as Jharkhand gears up for its upcoming assembly elections. NABARD’s financial support to the state for the current fiscal year now totals Rs 1,017 crore, with cumulative assistance under the RIDF reaching Rs 24,300 crore since its inception.