The Hindu : Karnataka News : ‘Irrigation potential is underutilised'

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Friday, Mar 25, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka

‘Irrigation potential is underutilised'

Special Correspondent

85 p.c. of minor irrigation projects not functioning: CAG

Only 13 to 17 p.c of the 5 lakh hectares irrigation potential has been utilised in five years
The CAG of India recommends review of all the ongoing minor irrigation works

— File Photo

Apathy: The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India says Rs. 7.31 crore was spent for maintenance of 245 non-functional minor irrigation tanks in the State from 2005 to 2009.

GULBARGA: The performance of Minor Irrigation Department and the percentage of utilisation of irrigation potential have come in for criticism from the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) of India.

In its latest report, the CAG said only 13 to 17 per cent of the 5 lakh-plus hectares irrigation potential was utilised in the past five years.

One of the main reasons for this was that 78 to 85 per cent of the minor irrigation projects were not functioning, the CAG pointed out.

Out of the 4,259 tanks which could irrigate 5.17 lakh hectares in 2008-09, as many as 3,318 minor irrigation tanks were not providing water even to one hectare of land. The performance was the same during 2005-06 and 2007-08.

A review of the performance of the 25 new tanks constructed between 2005 and 2009 revealed that while no irrigation was possible in 19 to 22 tanks, one to four tanks irrigated only 3 to 30 per cent of the command area.

The CAG, in its recommendations on streamlining the functioning of the Minor Irrigation Department, said that all the ongoing minor irrigation projects should be thoroughly reviewed to assess their viability.

A detailed action plan should be drawn to complete all pending works in a time-bound manner to avoid cost escalation, and reasons for the poor performance of minor irrigation projects should be analysed for taking appropriate remedial measures.

The CAG pointed out that the number of incomplete works had risen from 1,109 to 3,529 during 2005 to 2010 and the total investment in these works was Rs. 756.23 crore. Another Rs. 928.1 crore was required to complete these works.

The report indicted the department for violating the norms fixed by the 12th Finance Commission on the allocation and expenditure of funds for maintenance of minor irrigation projects. While the norms clearly stated that the funds for maintenance should be allotted only on performing projects, Rs. 7.31 crore was spent on maintenance of 245 non-performing minor irrigation tanks from 2005 to 2009. Besides, the department had spent Rs. 19.45 crore on the maintenance of 142 tanks with less than 40 acres of command area which should have been transferred to zilla panchayats.

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