Question : ONGOING IRRIGATION PROJECTS

(a) the number of irrigation project proposals received from various States during the last three years, State-wise;

(b) the number of project proposals cleared out of them, State-wise;

(c) the number of project proposals pending for approval of Central Water Commission;

(d) the reasons, if any for the delay in giving approval to them;

(e) the steps taken by the Government to clear the rest of the proposals;

(f) the number of irrigation projects that have been lying incomplete across the country; and

(g) the steps taken for the speedy completion of these projects?

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

(a) 194 project proposals (107 New projects & 87 Revised Estimates) have been received in CWC from various States for appraisal during last three year and current year. The state wise details are enclosed at Annexure-I & II.

(b) Out of 194 project proposals (107 new projects & 87 revised estimates), 138 projects (56 New projects & 82 Revised estimates) have been accepted by the Advisory Committee of MoWR. The state wise details are enclosed at Annexure-I & II.

(c) Presently, 51 New project proposals (29 major & 22 medium) and 5 Revised Estimates (3 major & 2 Medium) are under appraisal in CWC. The state wise details are enclosed at Annexure-I & II.

(d) & (e) Time taken in clearance of projects depends upon time taken by the project authorities in furnishing compliance to the observations given by CWC & other central agencies and submission of other mandatory clearances MoEF and MoTA etc, as necessary.

(f) As per the information available in CWC, 553 Projects (182 Major, 273 Medium and 98 ERM) spilled over from X to XI Plan. Out of which 82 Projects (10 Major, 41 Medium and 31 ERM) were reported as completed leaving 471 Projects (172 Major, 232 Medium and 76 ERM) lying incomplete across the country as on March 2010. State-wise break-up of these projects are given at Annexure-III.

(g) Irrigation development being a state subject, planning, execution and operation & maintenance of irrigation projects are carried out by the state governments from their own resources and their priority. The Union Water Resources Ministry provides assistance and guidance to the States Governments as and when necessary.

The Union Ministry has been providing central assistance under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) since 1996-97 in order to expedite completion of the projects fulfilling the eligibility as per AIBP guidelines. The State Governments have been provided an amount of Rs. 48565.476 crore as CLA/Grant under AIBP since inception of this programme till date.