Developments of Irrigation in India

The following points highlight the top twelve developments of irrigation under five years plans in India. Some of the developments are: 1. Extension of Irrigated areas 2. Development of Multi-purpose Projects 3. Development of Minor Irrigation Projects 4. Command Area Development Programme 5. Irrigation Commission and its Principles and Others.

Development # 1. Extension of Irrigated Area:

Five year plans have made extensive arrangement for extending the area under irrigation. At the time of independence, about 19 per cent of agricultural land of India was under irrigation system as against 41 per cent in Pakistan, 36 per cent in Israel, 52 per cent in Japan and near 100 per cent in Egypt. During the planning period, stress has been laid on the extension of irrigation facilities throughout the country.

As a result of that, at the end of 1997-98, 86.6 million hectares of land was irrigated which comes about 46.5 per cent of total cultivable area (186 million hectares) of the country? Among all the states, the extent of coverage of irrigation is highest in Punjab (73 per cent) followed by 50 per cent coverage in Haryana.

Development # 2. Development of Multi-purpose Projects:

In the meantime a good number of multi-purpose river projects has been completed under the plans for extensive utilisation of river water for irrigation purposes along with other uses.

Development # 3. Development of Minor Irrigation Projects:

Five year plans in India have also made extensive arrangement for the development of minor irrigation projects including wells, tanks, tube wells, pump sets etc. to extend irrigation facilities to small and marginal farmers.

Development # 4. Command Area Development Programme:

In 1974-75, the Command Area Development Programme was launched for the maximum possible utilisation of irrigation potential. Its main objective is to reduce the gap between the actual irrigation potential and its utilisation.

This scheme was also introduced for increasing the agricultural production from the irrigated commands. This programme envisaged execution of on farm development works like construction of field channels, land leveling or shaping and adoption of the warabandi system (network of distributaries over the command area) for rotational supply of water and construction of field drains.

Besides, the programme also encompasses adaptive trails, demonstration and training of farmers and suitable cropping pattern. As on 31st March 1997, Rs 4,472 crore was spent on the programme for 240 projects covering a command area of around 273 lakh hectares. In 1997-98, Rs 129.68 crore were released to states as central assistance under the programme.

This CAD programme is currently known as Command Area Development and Water Management Programme (CAD & WM). The programme, with a multi-disciplinary team and Area Development Authority, envisaged integration of all activities relating to irrigated agriculture in a coordinated manner.

Initially 60 major and medium irrigation projects were taken up under the CAD Programme, coverage a Culturable Command Area (CCA) of about 15 million hectare. Between 1974-75 until end-December 2006 311 projects with a CCA of 28.58 million hectare have been included under the programme.

Development # 5. Irrigation Commission and its Principles:

In India Irrigation Commission has underlined following three principles for the utilisation of irrigation water:

(i) To stimulate productivity of land in those areas where sufficient irrigation facilities has already been developed through judicious use of water;

(ii) Optimum utilisation of irrigation water where such facilities are not developed in abundance; and

(iii) To conserve water for facing drought like situation where irrigation facilities are insignificant. The Commission has earmarked the ultimate irrigation potential at 114 million hectares.

Development # 6. Progress of Cumulative Irrigation Potential:

Under the Five Year Plans, the cumulative irrigation potential has achieved a considerable progress under the patronage of both Central and State governments. Table 7.11.2 shows the progress of cumulative potential and its utilisation in India during different plan periods.

Table 7.11.2 reveals that the cumulative irrigation potential developed has increased from 22.6 million hectares during the pre-plan period to 26.3 million hectares during the First Plan and the cumulative utilisation of such potential was 25.1 million hectares.

But the same potential has reached the level of 44.2 million hectares during the Fourth Plan and then to 76.5 million hectares during the Seventh Plan and finally to 89.5 million hectares during the Eighth Plan out of which the cumulative utilisation figure during the Eighth Plan was 80.7 million hectares.

The target for the cumulative irrigation potential during the Ninth Plan is fixed at 106.4 million hectares and that of cumulative utilisation is fixed at 94.4 million hectares and the actual realisation was 94.7 million hectares and 84.7 million hectares respectively at the end of Ninth Plan.

Again at the end of the Tenth Plan, total irrigation potential in the country has increased to 102.8 million hectares and the cumulative utilisation of this potential was only 87.2 million hectares. The potential created so far is estimated to be 73.5 per cent of the ultimate irrigation potential of the country.

Again total irrigation potential of the country has increased from 81.1 million hectares in 1991-92 to 108.2 million hectares in March 2011. The pace of creation of additional irrigation potential came down sharply from an average of about 3 per cent per annum during the period 1950-51 to 1989-90 to 1.2 per cent, 1.7 per cent and 1.8 per cent per annum respectively during the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Plan periods.

The rate of growth of utilisation of the potential created declined to 1.0 per cent per annum during the Ninth Plan period and then improved to 1.5 per cent per annum during the Tenth Plan period.

The average annual rate of utilisation remained lower than the average annual addition to the irrigation potential resulting in the cumulative utilisation witnessing a continuous erosion. This not only results to an inefficient use of funds but also created a forgone income from irrigated lands.

The ultimate irrigation potential (UIP) has been reassessed at 139.89 million hectares (m ha). This is based on the reassessment of the ground water potential raised to 64.05 m. ha from 40 m. ha assessed earlier and the assessment potential of surface minor irrigation has been reassessed from 15.0 m. ha to 19.38 m ha. Thus, there has been an increase of 26.39 m. ha in the ultimate irrigation potential of the country which was assessed earlier at 113.5 million hectares.

Development # 7. Development of Agency and Programme for better Utilisation – AIBP:

The Government in the mean time has set up National Water Development Agency for formulating various programmes for the utilisation of water resources.

With a view to ensure early completion of projects for providing irrigation benefits to the farmers, the Government of India launched Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) in 1996-97, under which the Centre provides additional central assistance by way of loans to the states on matching basis for early completion of selected large irrigation and multi-purpose projects.

An amount of Rs1500 crore and Rs 952.19 crore was released under AIBP as central loan assistance to the states during 1996-97 and 1997-98 respectively.

Under the AIBP, Rs 67,195 crore of Central Loan Assistance (CLA)/grant has been released up to December 2014.

An irrigation potential of 8,503.0 thousand hectares is reported to have been created by states from major, medium and minor irrigation projects under the AIBP till March 2013,’ The Command Area Development Programme has also been amalgamated with the AIBP to reduce the gap between irrigation potential that has been created and that is utilised.

Development # 8. Impact on Food Production:

With the increase in irrigation potential to 89.3 million hectares, the production of food grains has increased from 55 million tonnes in 1949-50 to 212.0 million tonnes in 2001- 2002. Accordingly, the per capita availability of food grains has also increased from 395 grams to around 512 grams per day.

Development # 9. River Basin-wise Planning:

In order to attain a better use of water resources, the National Water Policy has suggested to treat river basin as the basis of water resources planning. Full utilisation of water resources is impossible in the absence of basin-wise planning. Such planning would help in projecting the probable infiltration of water and take necessary steps against soil erosion.

Development # 10. Restoration of Water Bodies:

Under a massive scheme for repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies directly linked to agriculture landed by the Union Finance Minister in the budget speech of 2004-05, it is proposed to restore water bodies throughout India to their original glory resulting in a significant enhancement of their storage capacity.

For this purpose, a pilot scheme to be implemented during the remaining period of the Tenth Plan was approved by Government in January 2005 with an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore. It is a state sector scheme, with a proposed finding pattern of Centre: State of 75: 25. Ministry of Water Resources has approved pilot projects in 26 districts of 15 states at an estimated cost of Rs 300.0 crore till end December 2007.

Under this National Project for Repairs, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies directly linked to agriculture, the central share of Rs 179.3 crore has been released to the states till November 30, 2007, covering 1,096 water bodies. The physical Work for restoration has been completed for 733 water bodies and the work is in progress in the remaining 365 water bodies.

Following the pilot scheme, restoration of water bodies has also been taken up in states having considerable number of water bodies with the World Bank assistance. The World Bank loan agreement has been signed with Tamil Nadu, for Rs 2,182 crore to restore 5,763 water bodies having a cultivated command area (CCA) of 4 lakh hectare.

The Rs. 835 crore Andhra Pradesh Community based Tank Management Project was signed with the World Bank in June 2007 for restoration of 3,000 water bodies with a CCA of 2.5 lakh hectare.

The project of Karnataka was also signed for Rs 259 crore with the World Bank in November 2007 for restoration of 1,225 water bodies involving a CCA of 0.52 lakh hectare. The proposals from Orissa and West Bengal Governments have also been submitted to the World Bank.

Development # 11. Irrigation Development under Bharat Nirman:

Irrigation has been undertaken as one of the six components for development of rural infrastructure under ‘Bharat Nirman’. The irrigation Component ‘Bharat Nirman’ aims at creation of irrigation potential of 10 million hectare in the four years from 2005-06 to 2008-09.

Keeping in view the present states, the target for creation of irrigation potential under Bharat Nirman has been proposed to be met largely through Completion of on-going major and medium irrigation projects.

Due emphasis has also been given to enhancing the utilisation of completed projects/schemes. Development of new projects of minor irrigation to cater to the requirement of specific areas especially to provide benefit to small and marginal farmers and dalits and tribals, has also been included in Bharat Nirman.

Thus irrigation component of Bharat Nirman is likely to play an important role for enhancing the irrigation potential of the country.

Development # 12. Irrigation Development under Eleventh Plan:

The Working Group on Water Resources for the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) has proposed creation of irrigation potential of 16 million hectares (9 million hectares from MMI sector and 7 million hectares from MI sector) during the Eleventh Plan period.