Question : TUBEWELL PROGRAMME IN BIHAR

(a) whether Tubewell Programme is being run under `Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana` to provide irrigation facility to farmers of Bihar;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether there is a plan to provide total number of six lakhs, forty thousand, three hundred and sixty six private tubewells and pumpsets at the rate of one lakh sixty thousand per year for the years 2003-04 to 2006-07 under this scheme;

(d) if so, whether the fixed target in this regard has been achieved; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING (SHRI M.V. RAJASEKHARAN)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b)&(c) : The Programme envisages installation of six lakh and forty thousand private shallow tubewells with pumpsets at the rate of one lakh and sixty thousand per year for the years 2003-04 to 2006-07. Backlog of previous year is carried forward to the next year.

(d)&(e): According to figures furnished by NABARD, the achievement in 2003-04 was 67%, while in 2004-05 the achievement was 108% of that year`s target in terms of number of tubewells for which funds were disbursed to beneficiaries. The scheme is still under implementation.