Rs 3528 crore Central aid given to state governments under CADWM

New Delhi, May 21 (UNI) The Centre has released a sum of Rs 818.54 crore to state governments under the Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) Programme covering an area of 2.315 Mha during the 10th Plan.

At present, the Centrally-sponsored programme is being implemented in 137 projects with balance executable Culturable Command Area (CCA) of 7.37 Mha. In the remaining 4.06 Mha area, it is not feasible to implement the programme due to either non-availability of water, expansion of towns and villages in commands or dilapidated condition of canal systems.

Since the programme's inception in 1974, Central assistance totalling Rs 3,528 crore has been given to the state governments under the scheme, according to an official release.

The Command Area Development (CAD) Programme was started with the objective of bridging the gap between irrigation potential created and that utilised through micro-level infrastructure development and efficient farm water management. It also seeks to enhance agricultural production and productivity and improve socio-economic conditions of the farmers. From April 1, 2004, the programme has been restructured and renamed as "Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) Programme".

Initially, 60 major and medium irrigation projects were taken up under the programme, covering CCA of about 15 Mha.

Till now 322 projects with a CCA of 29.5 Mha have been included under the programme. Construction of field channels has been completed in an area of 18.07 Mha till 10th Plan-end.

The main components covered under CADWM include correction of system deficiencies above the outlet upto distributaries of 4.25 Cumec (150 cusec capacity); construction of field channels and field intermediate and link drains; warabandi; reclamation of waterlogged areas of irrigated commands; renovation and desilting of existing irrigation tanks within the designated irrigation commands; software activities such as trainings, adaptive trials, demonstrations and monitoring and evaluation of the programme; and institutional support to registered Water Users Associations (WUAs) in the form of one time functional grant.

UNI SD SP NS1836