Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai lays foundation stone for Bagiya barrage-cum-pressurised lift irrigation project; 8,454 hectares across 13 villages to receive irrigation facilities
TFP Bureau, Jashpur, November 9, 2026: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday laid the foundation stone for the ₹79.38-crore Bagiya Barrage-cum-Pressurised Lift Irrigation Project at his camp office in Bagiya, Jashpur district. The project is expected to benefit more than 3,921 farmers across 13 villages by providing irrigation facilities to 8,454 hectares of agricultural land.
Addressing the gathering, Sai said agriculture was the backbone of Chhattisgarh’s economy and ensuring the prosperity of farmers remained a priority for his government. He noted that farmers often depended on rainfall due to inadequate irrigation facilities, limiting their ability to cultivate multiple crops.
The project is expected to improve water availability for both kharif and rabi cultivation, enabling farmers to increase cropping intensity and enhance their agricultural income. The Chief Minister said the initiative would help ensure more reliable, year-round access to irrigation water and strengthen the region’s agricultural economy.
A key feature of the project is the use of modern technology, allowing the irrigation system to be operated through mobile devices. Sai described it as the first project of its kind in Chhattisgarh to incorporate this technology, which is expected to make water distribution and management more convenient and efficient.
The barrage will be constructed at Muskuti village, around one kilometre from the bridge over the Maini River. Besides Bagiya, the project will cover Rajauti, Sujibahar, Dokda, Patrapali and Bansbahar, among other nearby villages.
Sai said the project was not merely an expansion of irrigation infrastructure but also an important step towards improving the livelihoods of thousands of farming families. He expressed confidence that access to modern irrigation facilities would help reduce cultivation-related constraints, increase agricultural production and create new opportunities for farmers.
Zila Panchayat president Salik Sai, Kaushalya Sai, Collector Rohit Vyas, Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Lal Umed Singh, public representatives, government officials and a large number of local residents were present at the foundation-laying ceremony.
