(a) whether the benefits of Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme
(AIBP) have reached the remote and rural areas;
(b) if so, the benefits that rural people especially women are
accruing from AIBP;
(c) whether the Government reviews the accessibility of AIBP
from time to time; and;
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES &
MINORITY AFFAIRS ( SHRI VINCENT H. PALA )
(a) &(b) Irrigation being a state subject, the irrigation projects
are planned, executed, funded by State Governments from their own resources
and as per their priorities. The Union Government provides Central
Assistance (CA) under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) to
the States as per guidelines for completion of ongoing projects. Preferential
funding to extent of 90% of the project cost is provided under AIBP to the
projects benefiting Drought Prone Area (DPAP), tribal areas and projects in
special category states. The Special Category States covers the North Eastern
States, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttaranchal. The
projects in the undivided Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi (KBK) districts
of Orissa also treated at par with Special Category States. As such, benefits
under AIBP are provided to remote and rural areas.
(c) & (d) The guidelines for AIBP funding are being revised from time
to time in order to enhance the scope of funding as well as to allow special
consideration for the regions lagging behind in development, which presently
include north-eastern states, hilly states, drought prone and tribal areas,
KBK districts of Orissa, states with lower irrigation development as compared
to national average and districts identified under PM package for agrarian
distressed districts.