Question : PLANNING FOR IRRIGATION

(a) whether the country is moving towards aridity where extremities are increasing and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to reclassify the climatic conditions in the country which would aid the planning process and help in allocation of funds to various mega water projects of the Government and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether some regions which receive more rain fall at present might no longer need that much irrigation, while regions that are showing declining rainfall, like Odisha and Chhattisgarh, might need more irrigation; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action being taken by the Government thereon?

THE HON’BLE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE AND WATER RESOURCES (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) The “Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) Report #2, Climate Change and India: A 4x4 Assessment: A Sectoral and Regional Analysis for 2030s” of the Ministry of Environment and Forests observes that there is an increase in the drought development in those areas of various regions that have either a projected decrease in precipitation or an enhanced level of evapotranspiration in the 2030s.

(b) Ministry of Water Resources has no proposal to reclassify the climate conditions in the country.

(c) & (d) Irrigation would continue to be required to mitigate the temporal and spatial variation in rainfall to fulfill crop water requirement throughout the country including Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Developing irrigation facilities are continuous efforts of the Central and State Governments. State Governments undertake several measures in this regard. Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments by way of technical and financial assistance through schemes and programmes viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies.