(a) whether 171 irrigation projects pending from previous plans are being included in the Tenth Five Year Plan;
(b) if so, whether many of the said projects are pending from the First Five Year Plan onwards;
(c) if so, the reasons for not completing these projects so far; and
(d) the efforts being made to complete these projects in the Tenth Plan?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SMT. BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY)
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir.
(c) & (d) The main reasons for not completing these irrigation
projects include thin spreading of resources by taking up too
many irrigation schemes without focusing on their completion,
resettlement & rehabilitation of project affected families,
land acquisition problem, contractual disputes and litigation,
completion of head works first without constructing the
distribution system, etc.
Concerned with such a large number of projects
spilling over from Plan to Plan, the Central Government
launched Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
during 1996-97 for accelerating implementation of ongoing
irrigation/multi-purpose projects on which substantial progress
has been made and which are beyond the resource capability of
the State Governments and for other major and medium irrigation
projects which are in advanced stage of construction. The
Central Government has also launched Fast Track Programme
during 2001-2002 which envisages providing 100% loan for such
approved major/medium irrigation projects which can be
completed in 1 year ( in two working seasons).