Cabinet okays scheme for augmenting ground water

New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved a scheme for augmenting ground water resources and improvement of the water quality at a total cost of Rs 1,871.10 crore.

The subsidy amount wil be Rs 1,499.27 crore.

The ''increase in availability of water for irrigation leading to creation of additional irrigation potential and arrest of declining ground water level'' is another outcome of the scheme, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said after CCEA meeting.

The scheme envisages ground water recharge programme in 1180 over exploited, critical and semi critical assessment units through 4.455 million existing irrigation dugwells owned by farmers in association with Central ground Water Board and NABARD.

There would be a provision of 100 per cent subsidy to marginal and small farmers and 50 per cent subsidy for other farmers has been made in the scheme.

The scheme will be implemented in three years during the eleventh Plan--2007-08 to 2009-2010, Mr Dasmunsi said.

UNI