Eco Survey says gap betn actual and potential irrigation area

A "gap" exists between the potential created and actual area brought under irrigation by Maharashtra government through various projects for achieving maximum irrigation potential, according to the state's annual economic survey.
The Survey for 2012-13 was tabled in the state legislature today ahead of presentation of the Budget for financial year 2013-14 tomorrow.
"The State Government has undertaken various major, medium and minor irrigation projects to create maximum irrigation potential. There is a gap between the potential created and actual irrigated area from these projects," the document said.
"By the end of June, 2011, the total irrigation potential created was 48.25 lakh hectares, of which, 26.71 lakh hectares was from major irrigation projects, 8.55 lakh hectares was from medium irrigation projects and remaining 12.99 lakh hectares from minor irrigation projects (State sector)," it said.

According to the Survey, the irrigated area in command area of Water Resources Dept increased from 29.55 lakh hectares in 2010-11 to 32.52 lakh hectares in 2011-12.
Maharashtra government has initiated a few reforms in irrigation sector, which include declaration of water policy, establishment of Water Resources Regulatory Authority, management of irrigation system by farmers and Water Users Associations (WUA), it said.
About 4,553 WUA covering command area of 21.20 lakh hectares are under various stages of formation, the Survey said.
The total live storage as on October 15, 2011 in the major, medium and minor irrigation (State sector) reservoirs taken together was 26,989 Million Cubic Meters (MCM), which was about 79 per cent of the storage capacity as per the project design, the survey noted.