Kumar Bahukhandi
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai inspects the river-powered irrigation installation at Pongro village in Jashpur district on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.Pjoto:channel24india.com via CG/CMO
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai inspected the ₹2.68-crore project in Jashpur, designed to irrigate about 80 acres and benefit around 135 farming families.
Key Highlights
- The Pongro scheme uses the Ghughri River’s flow to drive a turbine pump, with no need for electricity, diesel or solar power.
- The pump can deliver up to 17 litres per second to a distribution tank about 200 metres away.
- The scheme is designed to supply water for rabi and summer crops across about 80 acres.
- Sai said the project, the first of its kind in the Surguja division, could serve as a model for other parts of Chhattisgarh.
Raipur: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai inspected a river-powered irrigation scheme in Pongro village in Jashpur district’s Kansabel block on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The ₹2.68-crore project uses the flow of the Ghughri River to pump water to farmland without an external power supply. During the visit, Sai reviewed how the system works, how much water it can deliver and the area it is expected to serve.
How the River’s Flow Reaches the Fields
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai inspects the anicut on the Ghughri River at Pongro village in Jashpur district on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.Photo:channel24india.com via CG/CMO
The turbine pump sits on a platform about 100 metres downstream of the existing anicut, a low barrier built across the river. Flowing water drives the turbine, which powers the pump. The pump can deliver up to 17 litres of water per second to a distribution tank about 200 metres away and roughly 12 metres above the riverbed. Lined canals and channels then carry the water from the tank to the fields.
Because the river itself drives the pump, the scheme needs no electricity, diesel, petrol or solar power to operate it. That removes the need to buy fuel or electricity for pumping and avoids emissions from burning fuel at the site.
Irrigation for Rabi and Summer Crops
A view of the anicut across the Ghughri River at Pongro village in Jashpur district. The river’s flow powers the irrigation pump installed downstream.Photo: channel24india.com via CG/CMO
About 135 farming families are expected to benefit directly. By supplying water for rabi and summer crops across roughly 80 acres, the scheme could help farmers rely less on rainfall and cultivate an additional crop where conditions permit.
Sai said expanding irrigation was a priority for his government. He described the Pongro project as an example of how modern engineering and local resources can address a practical problem for farmers while reducing their dependence on electricity and diesel.
A Model for Other Parts of Chhattisgarh
Sai said the approach could be useful in other parts of the state. He linked the Pongro project to the government’s wider effort to make better use of water resources, extend irrigation and give farmers more opportunities to cultivate beyond the monsoon season.
Kaushalya Sai accompanied the Chief Minister. District Panchayat President Salik Sai, Collector Rohit Vyas, Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Lal Umed Singh and District Panchayat CEO Abhishek Kumar were also present.
