Gujarat gets Rs 2928 cr for irrigation, Rs 461 cr for watershed in 3 years

Ahmedabad

 The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has released Rs2928 crore to Gujarat under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Flood Management Programme (AIBFMP) in last three financial years. Under Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), the government has released Rs461.58 crore to state of Gujarat. Minister of state for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Mr. Sanwar Lal Jat presented the details in Rajya Sabha on December 14, 2015 replying a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Shri Parimal Nathwani.

The minister said that all the water resources projects such as major and medium irrigation projects, surface minor irrigation projects, repair, restoration and renovation (RRR) of water bodies are meant for storage of water resources for providing water to farmers for irrigation. The central government has provided total Rs2928 crore to state of Gujarat under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Flood Management Programme in last three financial years since 2012-13, said the minister. As per the statement tabled in the house, central government released grant of Rs1285.93 crore, Rs607.57 crore and Rs1033.94 crore in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively.

Shri Parimal Nathwani wanted to know about different schemes for making adequate water available to the farmers for irrigation and expenditure incurred during the last three financial years. He also wanted to know about central assistance provided for repair and maintenance of dams and embankment meant for water harvesting to various states.

Under IWMP the government has released total fund of Rs7167.97 crore to various state governments in last three financial years since 2012-13. The government also released total Rs.208.90 crore to different state governments under RRR and Rs2867 crore to various state governments for extension, renovation and modernization under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), he said.

– DeshGujarat