(a) the amount of funds earmarked for irrigation under Bharat
Nirman Programme and the amount of funds released so far;
(b) whether there is a gap between the irrigation potential created
and the irrigation potential utilised; and
(c) if so, the measures being taken by the Government to fill this gap?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES & MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) No specific allocation of funds has been made for the irrigation
component of Bharat Nirman Programme. Water being a State subject, Planning
and implementation of water resources projects are undertaken by respective
State Governments. However, Government of India provides financial assistance
to States under “Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme†for early
completion of the schemes. Central grant of Rs.48,566.58 crores has been
released to the States under AIBP since inception of the scheme from 1996-97
to 2010-11.
(b) Yes, Sir. By the end of Tenth Plan, 102.7 million hectares of irrigation
potential was created, against which 87.2 million hectares of irrigation potential
has been reported to be utilised.
(c) With a view to ascertaining the reasons for the gap between the irrigation
potential created and the irrigation potential utilized, Ministry of Water
Resources had conducted a study through Indian Institutes of Management,
Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata and Lucknow. The important reasons identified
by IIMs for the gap include: (a) lack of proper operation and maintenance;
(b) incomplete distribution systems; (c) non-completion of command area development
works; (d) changes from the initially designed cropping pattern; and (e) diversion
of irrigable land for other purposes. The report of the studies carried out by
IIMs was circulated to all the State Governments and other stakeholders. Necessary
measures for reducing the gap between irrigation potential created and irrigation
potential utilised are being taken by the respective State Governments. Moreover,
Government of India has laid due emphasis on water resources development and
management. As a result, the outlay for Water Resources sector has been increased
from Rs.95,743.00 crores during X Plan to Rs.2,32,311.00 crores during XI Plan.
Government of India also provides financial support to the States through Command
Area Development and Water Management (CAD&WM), which help in optimal utilization
of created facilities and also help in reducing the gap between irrigation
potential created and irrigation potential utilised. CAD&WM programme was
launched during 1974-75 to step up utilisation of created irrigation potential
and improve agriculture production and productivity on sustainable basis. So far,
an amount of Rs.4722.496 crores has been released to States and 19.69 mha has
been benefited through infrastructure development at micro level for supply of
irrigation water to the farmers.