3.62 million hectares brought under irrigation during 2005-07

New Delhi, May 27 (UNI) An estimated 3.62 million hectares of land has been brought under irrigation in the two years of Bharat Nirmal programme designed to develop rural infrastructure during 2005-07, the Water Resources Ministry said.

The Ministry, responsible for laying down policy guidelines and programmes for the development and regulation of country's water resources, said a flood management programme with an estimated cost of Rs 8000 crore will be executed during the 11th plan (2007-12).

Other decisions taken by the Government included endorsing of 11th plan document by the 54th meeting of the National Development Council, envisaging overall allocation of Rs 232311 crore for Irrigation, Flood Control and Command Area Development as a whole against the allocation of Rs 95700 crore during the tenth Plan.

Besides, under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) central assistance amounting to Rs 10,490.61 crore has been provided to the states since 2004-05, for completion of 207 ongoing major and medium irrigation projects and 4375 surface water minor irrigation schemes.

Since 2004-05, 63 major/medium projects and 1794 surface water minor irrigation schemes have been reported as completed. Irrigation potential created from major/medium projects and surface water minor irrigation schemes since 2004-05 up to March 2007 is 20.28 lakh hectares.

The 'National Project for Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies directly linked to Agriculture' was sanctioned in January, 2005 with an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore. The Scheme was approved for 26 district projects in 15 States. These projects cover 1098 water bodies with total original Culturable Command Area (CCA) of 1.72 lakh hectares.

An agreement was signed in the year 2004 with Government of Nepal for taking up investigation and preparation of detailed project report of Sapta Kosi Multi Purpose Project and Sun Kosi storage-cum- diversion scheme.

The Brahmputra Board took up the scheme for protection of Majuli Island (the largest river island in the World) since 2004. So far schemes amounting to Rs 47.50 crore have been sanctioned for protection of Majuli Island which are being executed by Brahmaputra Board in addition to the scheme at Dholla Hathiguli at estimated cost of Rs 9.66 crore.

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