ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : NATURAL RESOURCES 33
Eight Plan (1992-97) 32.95 28.41
Ninth Plan (1997-98)
Annual Plan (1997-98) 33.62 28.90
Annual Plan (1998-1999) 34.27 29.78
Annual Plan (1999-2000) 35.10 30.44
(Provisional)
Ninth Plan (1997-2002) 42.77 37.12
(Provisional)Source: Planning Commission Document-Ninth Plan (1972-2002) and Annual Plan (2000-2001).Common Area Development Programme
The Centrally-Sponsored Command Area Development (CAD) Programme was launched
at the beginning of Fifth Plan (1974-75) with the special objective of ensuring a faster and
better utilization of irrigation potential in selected Major and Medium Irrigation Projects in
the Country. Its main objective were as under:
(1) To improve the utilization irrigation potential.
(2) To optimise agriculture production and productivity from irrigation lands on a
sustainable basis.
(3) To integrate all functions related with irrigated agriculture through a
multidisciplinary team under an area development authority.
Programme broadly covers on-farm development works which include construction of
Field Channels, field drains, land-leveling and shaping wherever necessary, farm roads,
consolidation of holdings and realignment of boundaries, Introduction of Warabandi or
rotational supply of water and Setting-up off WFH wireless network for better communication
in order to ensure equitable and assured supply of irrigation even to the tail end holdings,
arrangement for supply in inputs and credit, agriculture extension, construction of markets
and godowns, and development of ground water for conjunctive use. The programme covering
152 selected major and medium irrigation projects in 20 states and two union territories
with total cultural command area of a little over 200 lakh ha. is being executed through the
various command area development authorities.
During the seventh plan, more emphasis was laid on improving water management and
water delivery system, adaptive trials, training of field-level staff and farmer, monitoring
and evaluation of the programme and involvement of farmers in water management.
Financing of C.A.D. programme is from three sources, namely central assistance to
states on matching basis for certain selected items, state government’s own sources and
institutional credit for works, land development, marketing and storage.
From 1986-87, the financing pattern has been revised, according to which construction
of field Channels from outlets for five to eight ha. Blocks is being financed on matching
grant, 50 per cent to be borne by the centre and the remaining by states. In the seventh
plan, allocation for CAD programme was Rs. 500 crore in the central sector against which
an expenditure of Rs. 497 crore was incurred.