Question : Storage Capacity of Reservoirs

(a) whether the Government is contemplating to expand its farmland under irrigation by the next three years, and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether a wide range of geographies, climatic conditions and crop patterns are likely to prohibit India from raising irrigation facilities beyond its optimum potential of 149 million hectares;
(c) if so, the facts thereof along with the reasons therefor;
(d) whether new reservoirs are needed to raise storage capacity of 450 billion cubic metres from the current 250 billion cubic metres to realise the said potential and if so, the response of the Government thereto; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to raise storage capacity of reservoirs to reduce the dependence on monsoon rains?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) to (c) Yes, Madam. The Government is contemplating to expand its farmland under irrigation by the next three years.

As per information available in CWC, the Ultimate Irrigation Potential estimated for the country is 139.9 Million Hectare (Mha). Irrigation Potential of 113.53 Mha has been created upto March, 2013. Additional Irrigation Potential of 7.6 Mha is targeted through completion of 99 priority projects under PMKSY/AIBP component by December, 2019. In addition to this, other projects are also under execution by the States.

Further, Interlinking of Rivers would bring additional 35 Mha irrigation potential creation over and above 139.9 Mha. Also, other storage projects e.g. Pancheshwar, Siang and other multipurpose projects will facilitate bringing the entire gross cropped area, to the tune of 199 Mha under irrigation.

(d) & (e) The reassessment of live storage capacity of completed, under construction and under consideration projects was carried out in 2010. As per this assessment, live storage capacity of completed, under construction and under consideration projects were 253.33 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM), 50.959 BCM and 104 BCM respectively. The Working Group on Major and Medium Irrigation for XI Plan estimated the loss of reservoir capacity by 2050 due to silting of reservoirs as 53 BCM and thus balance live storage capacity that would be available by 2050 is about 355 BCM.

For harnessing of 690 BCM of utilizable surface water, it is estimated that approximate live storage capacity of 450 BCM is required. Thus, new storage projects with storage capacity of about 95 BCM are required to be identified and completed by 2050 in addition to completion of all under construction and under consideration projects.

Water being a State subject, planning, execution, operation and maintenance of water resources projects including dams and canals are undertaken by the concerned State Governments as per their own resources and priorities. In order to supplement the efforts of State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes viz. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) etc.

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