State govts responsible for irrigation projects in tribal areas

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) The Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that irrigation is a State subject and the planning, execution, funding, operation and maintenance of irrigation projects are primarly the responsibility of the state governments based on their priorities.

Replying to a question, Minister of Water Resources Saifuddin Soz said that Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched a special programme to provide 100 per cent financial assistance to the states for taking up minor irrigation schemes for land of Scheduled Tribes.

During 2005-06, an amount of Rs 50 crore was released this programme for providing minor irrigation facilities in the tribal areas of the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. During 2006-07, the Planning Commission has earmarked Rs 150 crore for minor irrigation of tribal-owned lands, he added.

On implementation of rain water harvesting scheme, the Minister made it clear that this was not under consideration of the Government for implementation and making rain water harvesting scheme compulsory in farm sector for every land-holding farmer in the country.

Hence, the question of providing assistance by the Government for the purpose does not arise, he added.

Regarding non-supply of water to Bihar by Uttar Pradesh, Prof Soz said as per the information available with his Ministry, the UP government has not discontinued the supply of water to Bihar.

In this wake, no explanation was sought from the UP Government and there is no question of the Centre taking any steps to sort out this problem.

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