Question : IRRIGATION PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA

(a) the details of the major and medium irrigation projects in Maharashtra under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) which have since been completed;

(b) the present status of ongoing irrigation projects in the State;

(c) the reasons for delay in completion of these projects, project-wise;

(d) the funds allocated and released by the Union Government to each of the projects;

(e) the details of the proposals received from State Government of Maharashtra for grant of funds and the action taken by the Union Government thereon, project-wise; and

(f) the steps taken by the Union Government to ensure timely completion of the incomplete projects?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES(SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)

(a) & (b) Irrigation is a State subject and planning, execution and funding of the irrigation projects including priority of execution is within the purview of the concerned state government. Central Government provides financial assistance under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) to expedite completion of the ongoing irrigation projects. The status of the major/medium irrigation projects of Maharashtra under AIBP is given in Annex-I.

(c) Generally the reasons for delay in completion of the projects are land acquisition problems, resettlement and rehabilitation problems, contractual problems, geological surprises, litigations, works to be taken up by other agencies such as construction of railway crossing, road crossing etc.

(d) The details of funds released so far to the major and medium projects of the Maharashtra state are given in Annex-I.

(e) Receipt of AIBP release proposal and their processing and release of funds for the eligible proposals is a continuous process taken up by the Ministry of Water Resources during the year. During the 2009-10, grant amounting to Rs.905.505 crore has been released to Government of Maharashtra under AIBP for eligible proposals of 2009-10. The details are given in Annex-I.

(f) The Ministry of Water Resources and Central Water Commission consistently monitors performance of the AIBP assisted projects from time to time and suggest remedial measures for expeditious completion of the projects. Since December 2006, the format of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be signed by the state Governments with the Union Government for funding of irrigation projects under AIBP contains year wise targets of creation of irrigation potential under AIBP. The guidelines for AIBP provide that if targeted potential during the year is not created, the next installment of grant is to be released only on achieving target. The MOU also contains target dates of completion. However, there are cases where project completion gets delayed due to reasons beyond the control of the state governments. In such a cases, the extension of time is required to be granted.