Question : 'Khet Talab' under MGNREGS

(a) whether Government has decided to create 5 lakh farm ponds and dug wells under the MGNREG Scheme;

(b) if so, State/UT-wise details of number of farm ponds and dug wells that are planned to be build in this year 2016- 17, including for the State of Uttar Pradesh;

(c) the criteria on which the location for these 5 lakh farm ponds and dug wells is ascertained;

(d) whether activities to create these farm ponds and dug wells in drought-hit regions have been started immediately for providing relief to people there;

(e) if so, the details thereof and financial and physical progress made so far thereon, State/UT-wise; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

(a): In current financial year (FY 2016-17) a national target of constructing 8,82,325 Farm Ponds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has been kept to harvest rain water.

(b): Details of the number of farm ponds which are planned to be built in States/UTs including Uttar Paradesh under MGNREGA during this Financial Year 2016-17, is given in Annexure-I.

(c): The Ministry has imparted training to 260 engineers of State Technical Resource Teams (STRTs) from 31 States/UTs on all works permitted under MGNREGA including farm ponds and dug wells. Guidelines to locate farm ponds and dug well are provided in the ‘SAMARTHYA’ technical training manual (MGNREGA) published by the Ministry of Rural Development.

(d): Yes, Madam. Strategically most of the States/UTs started to create maximum number of farm ponds before pre-monsoon to avail benefit in the same year.

(e): State/UT-wise details of the physical progress in construction of Farm Ponds in FY 2016-17 (as on 18-07-2016) is given in Annexure-II.

(f): Does not arise.

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