Question : IRRIGATION POTENTIAL AND UTILISATION

(a) whether there is a major gap between irrigation potential created and its utilisation;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to bridge the said gap;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the irrigation potential likely to be created as a result \thereof during the current year;

(e) the funds allocated and released for completion of irrigation projects undertaken with Central assistance during the last three years and the current year, State-wise, yearwise;and

(f) the action taken by the Government in this regard?

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

(a) & (b) The information provided by State Governments in respect of irrigation potential created (IPC) and irrigation potential utilized (IPU) indicate that 15% of the irrigation potential created remain unutilized. Ministry of Water Resources awarded studies to Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Calcutta and Lucknow for conducting study related to gap between the irrigation potential created and utilised. The findings of the studies carried out at IIMs indicate that the gap between IPC & IPU is mainly due to (i) lack of proper operation, (ii) incomplete distribution system, (iii) non-completion of command area development works (iv) changes from the initially designed cropping pattern, and(v) diversion of irrigable land for other purposes. The State wise details of IPC and IPU are at Annex I.

(c) & (d) Several measures are taken by the respective State Governments for efficient use of created facilities which include (i) extension, renovation and modernization of irrigation projects, (ii) repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies and
(iii) command area development & water management. The annual target for creation of irrigation potential during the current year is 1.75 million hectare.

(e) & (f) Ministry of Water Resources provides central assistance to the State Governments under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) for expeditious completion of ongoing projects as per the guidelines of the programme in force from time to time. The funds allocated under AIBP for 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 are Rs. 3080 crore, Rs. 6600 crore and Rs. 8000 crore respectively. The allocation for the year 2010-11 is Rs.9200 crore. State wise details of the central assistance released under AIBP during the current year and last three years are at Annex –II.