BHUBANESWAR: In its continued efforts to increase the irrigation potential, the State Government has decided to install 1,725 new lift irrigation (LI) points under Biju Krushak Yojana (BKY) in the current and next financial years. The proposal was approved by the State-level scrutiny committee on BKY chaired by Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy. While undivided KBK districts will have 688 LI points, the remaining 1,039 will be in other districts. Maintenance of the proposed LI points will be entrusted to the beneficiary farmers, who will be trained on proper management of water. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be involved for creating awareness among the farmers about water management and maintenance of LI points. Funds from the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) will be utilised for the purpose of awareness programmes and maintenance of LI points. The meeting also discussed the report submitted by the Central Ground Water Survey on the status of ground water of 139 LI points. Eighty LI points remained ineffective due to low water table in those areas. The meeting decided to close 69 points. The last State-level scrutiny committee on BKY had approved installation of 562 LI points. While budgetary provision was made for 258 LI points, supplementary budgets will be made for the remaining 304 LI points.