Bhopal: Amid an election year, the Cabinet has approved the Chief Minister’s Krishak Mitra Yojana, a scheme aimed at providing permanent agricultural pump connections with a capacity of three horsepower or more to a collective of farmers. This initiative received the green light in a recent Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at his residence, Samtva Bhawan. The Mukhyamantri Krishak Mitra Yojana will remain in effect for two years following its implementation, with an initial target of distributing 10,000 pumps in the first year. This scheme is set to benefit farmers across the region.

To facilitate permanent pump connections with a capacity of three horsepower or more, the distribution company will install a 200 KV line extension and a distribution transformer, extending it up to a maximum distance of 11 meters through cables. The cost of developing power infrastructure will be shared, with farmers/farmers’ groups contributing 50%, the state government covering 40%, and the power distribution company chipping the remaining 10%. The distribution company will be responsible for the infrastructure expansion and maintenance of the lines and transformers installed for the pump connections.

Additionally, the Cabinet has allocated Rs 1535.79 crore to construct the Acharya Shankar Museum, Advaita Lok, and Mandhata parking for the Ekatma Dham project in Omkareshwar. The project has been modified to align with FIDIC document-based tendering in various phases, allowing tenders to be invited on a quality-cost basis. 

The project encompasses designing and developing activities within Adi Shankaracharya Museum “Advaita Lok,” including art and exhibit displays, dioramas, boating, a srishti gallery, high screen theatre, and a light and sound show.