Question : Irrigation in Kandhamal District

(a) whether the Government is aware that the access to irrigation in the district of Kandhamal is very low, with the area under irrigation for the Tumudibandh block and a majority of the Kandhamal district being only around 5%, which is in stark contrast to the Odisha average of 27.58%;
(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to allocate funds for developing irrigation facilities and addressing the irrigation needs of the people and farmers in the said region; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor and the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)

(a) to (c) Water resources projects are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes.

As reported by Government of Odisha, irrigation potential of 42789 hectares has been created in Kandhamal District (including 3130 ha. in Tumudibandha block) through various projects which is 33.48% of cultivable area of the district.
The State Government has also informed that special thrust is being given for construction of Community LIPs, Deep Bore Wells, Check Dams etc. so as to develop additional irrigation potential in Kandhamal district. For this, beneficiary farmers are provided subsidy in the range of 94 to 97% of the project cost under Deep Bore Well Scheme; whereas BPL category farmers and other farmers are receiving subsidy of 90% and 80% of project cost respectively under Community Lift Irrigation Projects. The on-going projects (101 no.) as well as proposed ones (454 no.) target to add irrigation potential of 4640 ha. during 2019-20. Additionally, feasibility study of two irrigation projects namely Khadaga Barrage and Brahmani Padar have been completed. Execution of these projects depends upon statutory clearances from the concerned departments.

Further, Department of Land Resources, Government of India has sanctioned 20 projects at a cost of Rs 130.92 crore for implementation of various activities in the Kandhamal district under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana- Watershed Development Component under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana(PMKSY)-Per Drop, More Crop component, an area of 946.95 ha has been covered in last four year in Kandhamal district.
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