(a) the percentage of the total irrigated area as compared to the total cultivable land in each State/Union Territory;
(b) whether the Government has formulated any special package for the States having less than national average irrigated land; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY
OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): It is estimated that the total irrigated area compared to the cultivable land
in the country is about 47%. The State wise details are annexed.
(b) & (c): Irrigation being a State subject, irrigation projects are conceived,
planned and implemented by the respective State Governments as per their own priority.
However, Government of India provides central assistance to the State Governments
under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP). As per the AIBP Guidelines,
new projects are included in the programme only on completion of an ongoing project
on one to one basis. However, the guidelines provides for inclusion of the projects
benefiting states with lower irrigation development as compared to the national
average in relaxation to the one to one criteria.