White Paper On Irrigation Department-Pages-1
White Paper On Irrigation Department-Pages-1
1.Introduction:
Irrigation is the sector which touches rural livelihood in terms of increased output of
agricultural production to irrigation. All across India, it is those areas which have assured irrigation
which have prospered in terms of agriculture and the dry lands and the dry areas are generally the less
endowed and poorer regions of the country. Expansion of irrigation and providing water is one way of
ensuring economic agricultural prosperity in the dry regime. It was the construction of Krishna
Barrage and Godavari Barrage, which has transformed agricultural scenario in the Central Coastal
Districts of Andhra Pradesh leading to agricultural prosperity and generating surplus wealth which got
invested in the manufacturing and tertiary sector. Keeping in view of the importance of irrigation for
transformation of the rural economy, successive Governments have focused on expanding irrigation
facilities in the State. A programme which was going on in a smooth manner giving benefits in terms
of highest value for money by having a cascading effect on wealth generation, unfortunately took a
different turn in the last one decade. Though, huge amounts of money have been spent, corresponding
irrigation facilities have not been created. Canals were dug without Head works being built resulting in
infructuous expenditure. The alacrity with which projects were grounded was missing in the interest
shown in getting clearances, solving bottlenecks in order to complete the already grounded projects. It
is this very nature of imbalance in prioritizing and taking up of projects with huge expenditure without
making commensurate efforts in helping in realization of immediate additional irrigable area has
attracted CAG criticism. This White Paper analyses the problems involved, the correctness of
priorities adopted and the reasons for the failure in achieving the targeted benefits.
The budget on irrigation used to be of the order of Rs. 2,178 crores in 2003-04. Suddenly the
Budget has increased to Rs. 4,245 crores in the year 2004-2005 and rose to Rs.17811 crores in 2009-
10. The total number of projects sanctioned has been 86 with an outlay of Rs. 1,90,598 crores in the
undivided A.P. in the last one decade. This number of projects with this much of an outlay with this
type of expenditure can only be completed in a period not less than 10 years, that too if the Plan
Budget for irrigation is 20% to 30% of the State Budget and the outlay remains not less than 15000 Cr
per annum while agreements were done with 4 (Four) years completion period. This itself shows that
the projects were taken up even without giving any proper thought on the likely period of completion
and the constraints we have in meeting such huge outlay.
The Indira Sagar Polavaram Project which is of great importance to the State in terms of
providing Irrigation facilities, Drinking and Industrial water , power generation could not be
completed as per schedule due to various hindrances. The important projects like Vamshadhara Stage-
I&II, Thotapally Reservoir Project, Pulichintala Reservoir Project, Veligonda Teluguganga etc., are to
be completed timely with meticulous planning for the realization of intended benefits.
A huge number of Lift Irrigation Projects was taken up in the undivided State of Andhra
Pradesh without even considering what are going to be its operational costs.
Hence, without a proper analysis of all the issues involved, these projects have been taken up
on a large scale leaving large number of incomplete projects without realization of contemplated or
commensurate benefits.