Concern over inadequate utilisation of funds for Rivers Command Area Development

NEW DELHI, Mar 13: Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday expressed concern over inadequate utilisation of funds for Command Area Development (CAD) under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).
Inaugurating a conference on CAD here, the Minister said that the overall purpose of AIBP will be defeated if CAD is not implemented properly. Command Area is the area up to where the waters of any canal provide irrigation.
Calling for faster and proper utilisation of funds, Mr. Gadkari said scarcity of water was one of the main reasons for large-scale migration of people from rural to urban areas. Therefore, scientific planning and management of water resources was the need of the hour.
Referring to new irrigation practices such as micro, drip and sprinkler, Mr Gadkari said such use will not only save water but also enhance agricultural production and will reduce productivity cost.
The Minister said that instead large dams, experts should explore the possibility of going in for check dams, rubber dams and small barrage. “Redundant technologies and old concepts should be abandoned,” he said.
Union Secretary Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, U P  Singh pointed out that CAD had not been given due importance in irrigation but was important for agricultural production especially as the gap in irrigation potential created and its full utilisation exists.
“CAD includes developing infrastructure for micro irrigation, land leveling, participatory irrigation management and scheduling cropping patterns. It helps in fully utilising the system developed for irrigation. This is important to meet the objective of More Crop Per Drop and Har Khet Ko Pani,” he said.
CAD programme was launched by the central government in 1974-75. It was restructured and renamed Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) Programme in 2004.
The programme is being implemented pari-passu (simultaneously) with AIBP since the Twelfth Plan. It is being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) as a component of Har Khet Ko Pani.
Water may be available in a reservoir or canal but it has to reach each farm and farmers need to use the limited water efficient manner. This is possible only on successful implementation of both, structural and non-structural components of CADWM and formation of participatory Water Users Associations for sustainable operation and management, experts at the conference said.  (UNI)

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