Centre praises Chhattisgarh's M-CAD initiative to boost irrigation efficiency

¨     Chhattisgarh Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) irrigation initiative received central government approval highlighting the national significance of the state’s irrigation model.

¨     The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti urged other states and Union Territories to study Chhattisgarh’s model to improve irrigation efficiency and water-use productivity.

¨     The M-CADWM scheme is a sub-scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and was approved by the Union Cabinet on 9 April 2025.

¨     The scheme has an initial outlay of ₹1,600 crore up to March 2026, aimed at improving water-use efficiency in agriculture.

¨     The target of the scheme is to achieve at least 75% water-use efficiency in farms through the adoption of micro-irrigation technologies.

¨     On 2 May 2026, a pressurised lift irrigation project worth ₹119 crore was inaugurated in Bagiya village of Jashpur district.

¨     The project aims to provide irrigation coverage across 13 villages, benefiting around 4,933 hectares of agricultural land.

¨     The project integrates modern technologies such as underground pipelines, solar power, SCADA systems, and IoT-based monitoring.

¨     It received ₹95.89 crore in central financial assistance and is targeted for completion within six months of inauguration.

¨     On 15 May 2026, the Ministry of Rural Development reviewed watershed development projects in Dhamtari district under PMKSY, focusing on irrigation and livelihood outcomes.

¨     On 14 November 2025, the Chhattisgarh government granted in-principle approval to 14 new irrigation projects, expected to bring about 1 lakh hectares of additional land under irrigation.