PMKSY to subsume three irrigation programmes

The newly launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), with an allocation of Rs 50,000 crore spread over a period of five years, will amalgamate three major ongoing irrigation programmes of the Centre to achieve a holistic development of irrigation potential, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said.

The programmes, which would be brought under one roof, are the accelerated irrigation benefit programme of the ministry of water resources, integrated watershed management programme of the ministry of rural development and land resources, and the farm water management component of the national mission on sustainable agriculture of the department of agriculture.

"The scheme also aims at bringing the ministries, departments, agencies, financial institutions - engaged in creation, use and recycling of water - under a common platform so that a comprehensive and holistic view of the entire 'water cycle' is taken into account and proper water budgeting is done for all sectors - households, agriculture and industries," Singh told Business Standard.

The Union Cabinet last week cleared the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sinchai Yojana (PMGSY). Singh said it would be implemented in project mode, which means the district administration draws up its own irrigation plan with the help of district forest officers, a lead bank officer and other departments. The state irrigation plan will be an amalgamation of all district plans.

"The final guidelines of the programme for effective implementation and monitoring is being formulated in consultation with the departments concerned and ministries, and will be issued soon," the minister said.

The PMGSY was one of the big poll promises of the BJP. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley allocated Rs 5,300 crore towards this in the budget for 2015-16.

According to official data, till 2011-12, around 46.34 per cent of India's net sown area of around 140.80 million hectares was under irrigation.

In 2000-01, around 40.5 per cent of net sown area was under irrigation, a rise of around 5.8 percentage point in a decade.

THREE-IN-ONE
Allocation: Rs 50,000 crore spread over a period of five years

• Subsumes three major ongoing irrigation programmes of the Centre - accelerated irrigation benefit, integrated watershed management and farm water management component of the national mission on sustainable agriculture
  
  Rs 1,500 crore would be spent to develop rain water structures, check dams and contour buildings under the watershed management programme
  

Rs 2,000 crore for ongoing projects under the accelerated irrigation benefit programme and also for construction of field canals

Rs 1,800 crore will be spent on developing water harvesting structures