Lok Sabha Question No. 26 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-02
Subject: Restoration of Tanks in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Margani Bharat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA

## REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 26

ANSWERED ON 02.02.2023

## RESTORATION OF TANKS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

## 26. SHRI MARGANI BHARAT

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  financial  support  to  the  Government  of  Andhra Pradesh in its  recent  decision  to  restore  9,200  tanks  and  repair  600  irrigation  channels  along  with construction of 3,250 check dams involving a total financial outlay of Rs 2,100 crores;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d) the details of other measures being taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government for restoration of old irrigation projects in the country especially in the State of Andhra Pradesh?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) to (c) Water being a State subject, it is for the State Governments concerned to take up water resources  projects,  including  restoration  of  tanks,  repair  of  irrigation  channels  and  construction  of check dams etc., as per their priorities and availability of funds, etc. However, Government of India provides partial financial assistance under its ongoing schemes for the identified projects. Some of the  schemes  under  which  partial  financial  assistance  is  being  given  to  identified  projects  for restoration of tanks, repair of irrigation channels and construction of check dams, are given below:

1. Under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana - Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP), Government of India is providing partial financial assistance for extension/ renovation/ modernization (ERM) of major/ medium irrigation projects. Scope of work under such projects may also include repair of irrigation channels.
2. Under  Repair,  Renovation  and  Restoration  (RRR)  of  Water  Bodies  component  of  Pradhan Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  -  Har  Khet  Ko  Pani  scheme,  partial  financial  assistance  is being provided to the State Governments for repair/ renovation/ restoration of identified water bodies and tanks.
3. Government  of  India  is  providing  partial  financial  assistance  inter-alia  for  construction  of check-dams and other water harvesting structures under Watershed Development component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.
4. Focused interventions under Jal Shakti Abhiyan annual campaigns taken up by the Government of India and the State Governments, inter-alia, include renovation of traditional and other water bodies/ tanks, enumeration, geo-tagging and making inventory of all water bodies, and removal of encroachments of tanks/ lakes, and de-silting of tanks.
5. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) has provisions for  public  works  relating  to  natural  resource  management,  water  conservation  and  water harvesting structures  to  augment  and  improve  ground  water  like  underground  dykes,  earthen dams, stop dams, check dams and roof top rain water harvesting structures in public buildings.

(d) Out  of  the  99  priority  projects  included  under  PMKSY-AIBP  in  2016,  7  number  projects involved  ERM  works.  These  included  Maniyari  tank  project  &  Kharung  project,  Chhatisgarh; Restoration  and  modernisation  of  Main  Ravi  Canal,  J&K;   Narayanpur  left  bank  canal  project, Karnataka;  Anandpur Barrage Phase-I / Integrated Anandpur barrage project, Odisha; Rehabilitation of  Ist  Patiala  Feeder  and  Kotla  branch  project  (Punjab);  and  Modernisation  of  Gang  Canal (Rajasthan).  Out  of  these,  all  except  Anandpur  Barrage  Phase-I  /  Integrated  Anandpur  barrage project, have been completed.

Subsequently with the approval of PMKSY 2.0 in 2021, another two ERM projects, namely ERM of Sukla  irrigation  project   (Bodoland  Territorial  Council,  Assam)  and  ERM  of  Loktak  lift irrigation  project  (Phase-I),  Manipur,  have  been  included  for  financial  assistance  under  PMKSYAIBP. Both the projects are presently under implementation.

At present, no proposal  for extension/ renovation/ modernization project from the State of Andhra Pradesh has been received in this Ministry.

*****