Question : IRRIGATION FACILITIES

(a) whether the Government are contemplating to launch another effective scheme for providing irrigation facilities to farmers in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the amount likely to be spent thereon?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SMT. BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY)

(a) to (c) There is no proposal before the Union Government to launch another effective scheme for providing irrigation facilities to farmers. However, the Ministry of Water Resources proposes to take up a Participatory Irrigation Scheme for Rehabilitation and Management of Minor Irrigation Projects to be completed in 5 years at an estimated cost of Rs.760 crore, which is proposed to be met by the Union Government and the concerned States in 75:25 ratio with contribution of the beneficiaries/farmers in the form of free voluntary labour and materials. The cost equivalent to labour/materials of the farmers shall be taken from the project account and deposited in a separate fund to be named as “Tank Maintenance Fund”, which may be used for operation and maintenance purposes after completion of the scheme. It is envisaged that the scheme would require about Rs.102 crore during the remaining period of the Ninth Plan, of which the Central component would be of the order of Rs.77 crore. Besides, the Ministry of Water Resources also proposes to take up another Participatory Irrigation Management Scheme during the Ninth Plan on pilot basis for 140 projects not covered under the Command Area Development Programme. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.37.575 crore of which Rs.19.90 crore is proposed to be met by the Union Government, Rs.17.325 crore by the concerned States and the remaining Rs. 0.350 crore by the farmers.