(a) whether the Government proposes to provide/ enhance irrigation facility on priority basis to check desertification under Desert Development Programme (DDP);
(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
(c) whether the Government proposes to provide 90 per cent Central assistance for DDP areas under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP);
(d) if so, the time by which it is likely to be done; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (PROF. SANWAR LAL JAT)
(a) to (e) Irrigation being a State subject, the irrigation projects are planned, executed and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their resources and priorities. However, the Union Government provides central assistance under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) to the State Governments on their request and as per the Guidelines of AIBP for completion of approved ongoing irrigation projects. During XII Five Year Plan, a project benefiting Desert Development Programme (DDP) area/ Desert Prone area will be treated on a par with those bene- fiting Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) areas and the new projects will be eligible for central assistance @ 90% for projects in special category States, while it will be 75% for projects in non- special category States. The ongoing projects already under AIBP and benefiting DDP area/ Desert Prone area will continue to get central assistance @ 25%.