Lok Sabha Question No. 1739 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-08
Subject: Lack of Irrigation Facilities
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAM PRASAD SARMAH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1739

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH   MARCH, 2016

## LACK OF IRRIGATION FACILITIES

## 1739.     SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that farmers in Assam are facing lack of irrigation facilities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that due to lack of irrigation farmers are in starvation like condition;
- (d) if so, the details of funds sanctioned and released to Assam for irrigation schemes during the last three years; and
- (e) the details of action taken by the Government to enhance the irrigation system in Assam?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्राऱय में राज्य मंत्री (SHRI  MOHANBHAI  KUNDARIYA)

- (a) & (b): As per available estimates (2012-13), the net sown area of Assam State is about 2.81 million ha, of which nearly 0.161 million ha area is covered under irrigation.
- (c): Agriculture operations in rainfed/dry land areas are mostly dependant on rainfall.  These areas  are  vulnerable  to  water  stress  and  deficit    rainfall.    However,  there  is  no  starvation condition of farmers in the State.
- (d): Funds provided to Government of Assam for various irrigation/water conservation/water management schemes during the last three years is as under:

Rs. in Crore

|   Sl. | Components/Activities                                                    |   Funds released during last three years (2012-13 to 2014-15) |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|     1 | Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)                          |                                                     1519.07   |
|     2 | Command Area Development & Water Management (CAD&WM)                     |                                                        2.6948 |
|     3 | Watershed Development - Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) |                                                      166.56   |

| 4     | Micro Irrigation                                                     | 1.0      |
|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|
| 5     | Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)                                 | 45.51*   |
| 6.    | World Bank assisted Assam Agriculture Competitiveness Project (AACP) | 217.73*  |
| Total | Total                                                                | 1952.564 |

*Funds utilized by State for Water conservation & management activities.

With  an  aim  to  enhance  irrigation  coverage  and  improve  water  use  efficiency  in  the country including Assam, Government  has launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)  w.e.f.  1 st July,  2015.      PMKSY  envisages  end-to-end  solutions  in  irrigation  supply chain, viz. water sources, and distribution network  and farm level applications.  PMKSY is to be implemented in an area development approach, adopting decentralized state level planning and projectised execution, allowing the states to draw their irrigation development plans based on district/blocks plans with a horizon of 5 to 7 years.  States can take up projects based on the District/State Irrigation Plan.

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