260 major and 956 medium irrigation projects completed

New Delhi, June 20 (UNI) A total of 260 of the 442 major irrigation and 956 of 1,229 medium irrigation projects in the country have been completed as per an assessment at the beginning of the 11th Plan.

State Governments have created 102.7 million hectares irrigation potential through various major, medium and minor irrigation projects implemented up to March 31, 2007, of which about 87.2 million hectares is being utilised.

The gap between the irrigation potential created and that utilised is mainly due to non-completion of field channels and lack of on-farm development resulting in inefficient use of the available water in the canal network and poor operation and maintenance.

To bridge the gap between irrigation potential created and utilised, the Command Area Development (CAD) Programme was initiated in 1984 and subsequently restructured as CAD&WM Programme during 2004. Due emphasis has been given on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and capacity building to users under this programme.

With a view to ascertain the reasons for the gap in the irrigation potential and identify the measures for reducing i, the Ministry of Water Resources has taken up a study through Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmadabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kolkata and IIM Lucknow.

UNI SD SR RK1515