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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | 163 irrigation projects delayed, cost soars 231% -Subodh Varma

163 irrigation projects delayed, cost soars 231% -Subodh Varma

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published Published on Oct 25, 2012   modified Modified on Oct 25, 2012
-The Times of India

While allegations of irrigation-related illegalities continue to fly thick and fast, with Maharashtra at the epicenter, the status of irrigation projectsacross the country presents a dismal picture. 

Stalled projects are not only symptoms of corruption, they are depriving farmers of life-saving water for crops, weakening food security and pushing them to the brink of pauperization.

In all, 77 major and 86 medium irrigation projects are running delayed by anything from a few years to as much as 40 years in some cases.

The cost of these 163 projects was pegged at Rs 47,864 crore at the time they were started. Now their combined cost is estimated at Rs 1.58 lakh crore. That's an escalation of a phenomenal 231%. 

These startling figures were made available to Parliament by Vincent H Palla, state minister for water resources in August this year. 

The period of delay in these 163 projects is also astonishing. There are 71 projects delayed by 10 to 20 years beyond their respective scheduled dates of completion, and 30 more that are delayed by 20 to 30 years. 

Another 45 projects are running behind schedule by as much as 30 to 40 years. And there are five ancient projects delayed by over 40 years. 

The current storm over Maharashtra appears to be justified because 87 of the delayed projects are in that state. The cost over-run for these projects is huge. Initially estimated at Rs 21,938 crore, the cost now is estimated to be Rs 55,991 crore, an escalation of 155%. 

Besides these major and medium projects, also delayed are 755 minor irrigation projects out of the 1,310 that were included in a special "accelerated" program. Minor irrigation is defined as covering less than 2000 hectares of land and involving the use of both surface and ground water. Major irrigation is above 10,000 hectares and medium is between 2,000 and 10,000 hectares of land covered. 

In India, 56% of food grains are produced from 47 million hectares (Mha) of irrigated land while the remaining 44% is produced from 95 Mha of rain-dependent land. Irrigation would make all the difference to this vast, thirsty land by boosting food production and helping struggling farmers out of poverty. 

Cryptic reasons were also stated for the delays in the minister's statement, and they make for interesting reading. Land acquisition problems were reported to be the cause of delay in 72 of the 163 projects. Problems of rehabilitation of displaced people from dam sites were said to have delayed 35 projects. But what was more surprising was that 67 projects were held up because of shortage of funds. 

This means that either these projects were being starved of funds or funds were being misused in some way thereby affecting the projects adversely. Another statement by the minister in Parliament, on a different occasion, revealed that the government had spent over Rs 2.17 lakh crore on irrigation projects during the 11th five year plan, that is, between 2007 and 2012. 

The irrigation potential created in this period was 7 million hectares. 

Irrigation potential does not mean that the water has started flowing into the thirsty fields of farmers. 

Setting up dams before the canal network is completed, disrepair of canal systems and lack of field channels are some of the reasons why the potential may not be actually utilized, as pointed out by the report of the task force on irrigation headed by Kirit Parekh. Data on actual utilization for this period is not available.

The Times of India, 24 October, 2012, http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-24/india/34707606_1_irrigation-projects-minor-irrigation-major-irrigation


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