ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : NATURAL RESOURCES 35
(i) First, for adopting suitable pattern and
(ii) Second, for improving farm practices without deterioration of soil health.
During the ninth plan 1997-2002. The ministry has identified three items of work as
thrust areas, these items of workers are as under:
(i) Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM),
(ii) Reclamation of waterlogged in the command of on-going CAD projects, and
(iii) Dissemination of technical knowledge to farmers and functionaries.
It is rightly realized that the popular participation, that is, the involvement of farmers
in the management of irrigation is essential for better utilizations of water for irrigation
with a view to encourage an incentive to Farmers Associations/Water Users’ Associations,
a one-time function grant of Rs. 500 per ha. (To be shared as Rs. 255 per ha, by state and
Rs. 50 per ha. by Farmers’ Associations) is provided to registered and function Farmers’
Associations. Emphasis is laid on dissemination of technical know-how among functionaries
and farmers. Keeping it in view, adaptive trials/demonstrations in the farmers’ fields and
training of farmers and functionaries has been an important activity. It would be called a
great achievement that upto March 2002, 441 projects had been included for treatment of
waterlogged areas in the CAD commands.
Minor Irrigation Scheme
Ground water development, which constitutes bulk of the Minor Irrigation Programme,
is essentially a People’s Programme implemented primary through individual and co-operative
efforts with finance obtained mainly from institutional sources. To encourage use of water-
saving devices such as Sprinklers, Drip Systen, Hydrams, Water Turbines and Hand Pumps,
the Government subsidies are made available to Small and Marginal Farmers for their
purchase.
Minor Irrigation Schemes provide instant and reliable source of irrigation to cultivators.
It also provides critical help in improving the status of irrigation and controlling water-
logging and Salinistion in Canal Command, Minor Irrigation Surface Water Projects, which
are financed through plan Funds, often chronically drought-affected areas. Initial investment
on these schemes is comparatively low and they can be completed quickly. Moreover, these
schemes are labour-intensive and offer employment to the rural people. Growth of irrigation
potential from Minor Irrigation Schemes is shown in Table 2.4.
Table 2.4
Minor Irrigation Potential (Comulative)Period Potential (Lakh Hectate)Ultimate Potential ( by 2010 AD) 550.00
Potential at the end of 1950-51 129.00
First Plan 140.00
Second Plan 147.50
Third Plan 170.00