Water is essential for the Rabi crop in the pre-harvesting season.

The request has been made in view of receding water level in Sone river, which is the main source for channelising water to the canal from the Indrapuri barrage (erstwhile Kadhwan reservoir).

Sone canal system is nearly 125 years old in which one anicut was constructed on river Sone at Dehri and Canal system was developed both on the eastern and western side of the anicut. Sone low level canal was originally planned for Rabi irrigation only but later on the situations changed a lot as there was vast change in the cropping practice adopted by the cultivators of the area after receiving canal water supply. Farmers switched over to Kharif irrigation also and ultimately, Kharif became the chief crop in the Sone command area.

Reports said 2410 cusecs of water had been released from the Indrapuri barrage into the west and east Sone canal to provide water for irrigation to farmers in Bhojpur, Arwal, Jehanabad, and Patliputra districts.

Sources said irrigation facilities were being provided on a priority basis to farmers so that Rabi harvest was good this season, which would have its impact on bringing down the prices of foodgrains.

Last season, poor production of Kharif crop due to scanty rainfall, especially in northern India, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, had triggered escalation in prices of food items putting an adverse impact on the economy.