Shimla : The Centre has sanctioned 39 small irrigation projects for Himachal Pradesh under its Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).
The projects, which are to be executed at a cost of Rs 73.74 crore, would benefit 9,836 farmers besides covering 4,110.44 hectare area under irrigation facility, said Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes.
She said out of 39 schemes, three schemes would be implemented in Kullu, five in Solan, 13 in Kangra, nine in Mandi, four in Shimla, one in Bilaspur, two in Hamirpur, one each in Kinnaur and Una districts.
Stokes said 90 per cent of state's population is dependent on agriculture and horticulture related activities and keeping this in view, irrigation has been accorded top priority by the government to boost the sector.
She added that up to December 2013, an area of 2.58 lakh hectares had been brought under assured irrigation.
