: Mumbai/ New Delhi, February 14,2023

A special package for completion of 8 number major and medium irrigation projects and 83 number surface minor irrigation (SMI) projects of Maharashtra having estimated balance cost of Rs. 13,651.61 crore as on 01.04.2018 has been approved by Government of India during 2018-19. Total central assistance under the package is Rs. 3,831.41 crore, for creation of additional potential of 3.77 lakh hectare. Out of these, so far 28 number SMI projects have been completed, and a total of 1.28 lakh hectare of irrigation potential has been created through these projects during 2018-2022.

The details of the central assistance (CA) released under PMKSY-AIBP and Special Package to the State of Maharashtra during 2021-22 and 2022-23 are as under:

(Rs. in crore)

One major irrigation project from the State of Maharashtra, namely Jihe Kathapur (Guruvarya Late Laxman Inamdar) lift irrigation scheme has been included under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) during 2021-22.  The project has a command area of 27,500 hectare and the estimated cost is Rs. 1200.2 crore at 2017-18 price level.

Further, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has received the detailed project report (DPR) of Katepurna barrage medium irrigation project of Maharashtra in September, 2022. Estimated cost of the project is Rs. 533.81 crore at 2017-18 price level, and culturable command area to be covered is 4,350 hectare. Preliminary observations have been communicated by CWC to the project authorities in January, 2023.

At the launch of PMKSY-AIBP in 2016, 26 number ongoing major & medium irrigation projects from Maharashtra were included under this scheme. These projects had balance estimated cost of Rs. 21,925.75 crore, with central assistance component being Rs. 3,109.98 crore. Progress in the 26 projects has created an additional irrigation potential of 314.71 thousand hectare during 2016-17 to 2021-22. Out of these, 9 projects have been completed.

Partial financial assistance is being provided by Jal Shakti Ministry for major and medium irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP), with pari-passu implementation of command area development & water management (CAD&WM).  However, it is for the State Government concerned to plan, implement, run and maintain details of the irrigation projects within its jurisdiction.

As per CWC norms, time taken for completion of appraisal process by CWC for projects where the design is done by the State Government design organization as in this case, is four months. However, actual timelines for appraisal process is dependent upon submission of compliance by the project authorities on the observations of CWC on various aspects like hydrology, irrigation planning, inter-state aspects, design, cost estimation etc. in a reasonable time frame.

This has been stated by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti Shri Bishweswar Tudu in reply to an unstarred question in Rajya Sabha on Monday.   

SC/PM  Source: Jal Shakti Ministry

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