Thursday, 23 August 2012

Five Fold increase in Irrigation Potential during Last Six Decades

Five Fold increase in Irrigation Potential during Last Six Decades Government gives significant importance to develop irrigation potential through Major and Medium Irrigation (MMI) projects which has increased irrigation potential from about 9.7 million ha in 1951 (pre-Plan stage) to about 45.6 million ha by March 2010. Technical and financial assistance is provided to State Governments through various schemes/programmes such as Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), Command Area Development and Water Management (CAD&WM) and Repair Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies etc.

A target to create additional irrigation potential of 16 million ha (9 million ha through major and medium irrigation and 7 million ha through minor irrigation projects) was set for XI Plan. This target was reduced during mid-term appraisal to 5.0 million ha through major / medium and 4.5 million ha through minor irrigation respectively.

As per available estimates (2009-10), about 63 million ha (45%) of the net sown area of 140 million ha is irrigated.

This information was given by Dr. Charan Das Mahant, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

MP:SB: irrigation (26.3.2012)
(Release ID :81717)

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