34 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
It was decided to include on pilot basis suitable minor irrigation project of State/UTs
north-eastern region including Sikkim Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh for
command area development.
The ultimate objective of CAD programme is to provide agricultural production in
Command Area. Every CAD administrator has been advised to undertaken intensive crop-
cutting experiments for each crop season so that the rise in agricultural productivity in
Irrigation Commands can be effectively monitored. The Central Government has also decided
to provide cent percent cost of training of Orientation of Senior-level Officers involved in the
Programme.
By March 1990, physical achievement under the programmed includes 111 lakh ha. of
area provided with field channels, 19 lakh ha. of land-levelled and 49 lakh ha covered under
the Warbandi.
Note : Courtesy Research and Reference Division Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Govt. of India.
Major and Medium Irrigation Projects
The irrigation projects with a Culturable Command Area ( CCA) of more than 10,000
ha. are classified as major projects and project with a CCA of more than 2, 000 ha. and upto
10,000 ha, are categories as medium projects.
Between 1951 and 1985, 246 Major and 1,059 medium project were taken up for
execution. Among them, 65 Major and 626 Medium Projects were completed by 1985. During
the seventh plan, 18 new medium project were taken up. Out of the 199 major and 462
medium projects in hand, 37 major and 185 medium projects are expected to have been
completed during the seventh plan period.
In 1974, 60 major and medium irrigation projects were begun, with a Culturable
Command Area (CCA) of about 15 mha. Later on, a number of projects were included while
a few were deleted. At present, the number of programmes with CCA of 22.78 mha. The
projects are spread over 28 States and two Union Territories. The great concern is reflected
from the fact that since inception, and amount of Rs. 2,452.33 crore has been spent for
different activities of the programme. An amount of Rs. 148.27 crore has been spent during
2001-2002.
The programme involves execution of On Farm Development (OFD) works. A few of
them are as under:
(1) The construction of field channels and field drains.
(2) The land levelling and shaping.
(3) The conjunctive use of surface and groundwater.
(4) Warabandi or a rotational system of distribution of irrigation water is undertaken.
The sole aim behind it, is to ensure equitable and timely supply of water to farmer’s
fields.
Suitable measure and adopted, for example, adapting trials/demonstrations and training
of farmers and functionaries of implementing departments are encouraged with a view to
disseminate the technical know-how among farmers with mainly two purposes: