Irrigation Potential And Its Utilization

IRRIGATION POTENTIAL AND ITS UTILIZATION .

STARRED

QUESTION NO . 425

ANSWERED ON 26.08.2010

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES be pleased to state :-  

(a) the current irrigation potential created and utilized for the country and Andhra Pradesh in particular, where total irrigation potential created was 63,22,680 hectares and out of that 58,32,810 hectares was utilized;

(b) the cost incurred for creation of such irrigation potential;

(c) the reasons for under-utilization of irrigation potential created; and

(d) the scope for further creation of irrigation potential in the next five years and the steps being taken by Government in this regard?

ANSWER
 

THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND WATER RESOURCES (SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL)

(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION No.425 TO BE ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 26.8.2010 REGARDING IRRIGATION POTENTIAL AND ITS UTILIZATION.

(a) As per the information provided by the State Governments, total irrigation potential created in the country up to March 2010 is 108.21 million hectares (Mha) which includes 7.45 Mha of irrigation potential created in Andhra Pradesh. Detailed information about utilization of irrigation potential is available up to the end of X Plan i.e. March 2007. Against the created irrigation potential of 102.7 Mha at the end of X Plan, the irrigation potential utilization of 87.2 Mha was reported by the State Governments. The irrigation potential created and the irrigation potential utilized for Andhra Pradesh at the end of X Plan have been reported to be 6.86 Mha and 6.20 Mha respectively.

(b) Total expenditure under Major & Medium Irrigation sector, Minor Irrigation sector and Command Area Development and Water Management (CAD&WM) sector from I Plan to X Plan is about Rs.2,50,287 crores. Further, the outlay for these sectors during the first three years of the XI   Plan i.e. during 2007-08 to 2009-10 is Rs.1,25,355 crores.  

(c) With a view to ascertain the reasons for the gap between the irrigation potential created and the irrigation potential utilized, Ministry of Water Resources conducted a study through Indian Institutes of Management, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata and Lucknow. The important reasons identified by  --> IIMs for the gap include: (a) lack of proper operation and maintenance; (b) incomplete distribution systems; (c) non-completion of command area development works; (d) changes from the initially designed cropping pattern; and (e) diversion of irrigable land for other purposes.

(d) Necessary measures for creation of irrigation potential are taken by the respective State Governments. Government of India has laid due emphasis on water resources development and management. The outlay for water resources sector has been increased from Rs.95,743 crores during X Plan to Rs.2,32,311 crores during XI Plan. The revised target for creation of irrigation potential during XI Plan is 9.5 Mha out of which creation of irrigation potential of about 5.51 Mha has since been reported during the first three years of the XI Plan i.e. during 2007-08 to 2009-10 by the respective State Governments. Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments with a view to encourage sustainable development and   efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programme. Central grant is provided to States under various schemes / programmes of Ministry of Water Resources namely “Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme”, “Command Area Development and Water Management Programme”, and “Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies”. There has been considerable increase in the allocation for these schemes during XI Plan

Twitter Link To This Post
Facebook Link To This Post

YS Chowdary Facebook
YS Chowdary Twitter
YS Chowdary Blog
YS Chowdary Wikipedia