Uma Bharti launches Centre’s extensive water conservation programme for drought prone areas of country

On April 28, 2017, Uma Bharti – Union Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister launched Centre’s extensive water conservation programme for drought prone areas of country. The programme was launched at Bandri in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh in presence of Narottam Mishra – Irrigation Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Dharmpal Sing – Irrigation Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

• This programme aims to increase irrigation area and replenish/protect water resources in Bundelkhand region (spread across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh), Marathawada region (in Maharashtra) and Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput in Odisha.

Initiatives for Bundelkhand Region

For Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh:

• For artificial recharge of ground water, around 1100 percolation tanks, 14000 small check dams/Nala bunds and 7200 Recharge pits/shafts have been identified.
• Proposal to construct 234 wells in five districts viz. Banda, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Chitrakoot and Mahoba for ground water exploration.
• Six districts covering an area of 11851 sq km have been considered for implementing new initiatives under National Ground Water Management Improvement Schemes (NGMIS).
• Incentivization Scheme for Bridging Irrigation Gap (ISBIG)is being prepared by Ministry. Betwa and Gursarai canal, Rajghat canal, Ken canal system, Gunta Nala dam and Upper Rajghat canal with target to bridge 17,1030 hectares in Bundelkhand region of UP has been proposed under this scheme.

For Bundelkhand Region of MP:

• For artificial recharge of ground water, around 2000 percolation tanks, 55000 small check dams/Nala bunds and 17000 Recharge shafts have been identified.
• Proposal to construct 259 wells in six districts for ground water exploration.
• Five districts covering an area of 8319 sq km have been considered for implementing new initiatives under National Ground Water Management Improvement Schemes (NGMIS).
• Rajghat Canal Project with target to bridge 68007 hectare has been proposed under Incentivization Scheme for Bridging Irrigation Gap (ISBIG).

Initiatives for Marathawada Region:

• An area of 3727 sq.km in Marathwada is proposed to be covered under National Ground Water Management Improvement Schemes involving approximate expenditure of Rs. 380 crore.
• Seven schemes at expenditure of Rs. 250 crore with target to bridge 53365 hectares have been proposed under Incentivization Scheme for Bridging Irrigation Gap (ISBIG). The scheme will benefit Aurangabad, Latur, Nanded, Prabhani, Nanded, Solapur and Osmanabad districts.

Initiatives for Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput (KBK) region of Odisha:

• Nine projects with target to cover 0.68 lakh hectares have been proposed under Incentivization Scheme for Bridging Irrigation Gap (ISBIG). The scheme will benefit Malkangiri, Bolangir, Nuapada, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Bargarh districts
• 89 water bodies having irrigation potential of 5739 hectares have been included for providing central assistance under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).
• Out of the 99 ongoing irrigation projects which will be completed by March 2019 under Accelerated irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), 4 will benefit KBK region. These projects have irrigation potential of 1.44 lakh hectares.