PMKSY envisages amalgamation of ongoing schemes:

1. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR RD & GR)
2. Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of Department of Land Resources (DoLR)
3. On Farm Water Management (OFWM) of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC)

Ministries involved:

1. Ministry of Rural Development- Mainly undertake rain water conservation, construction of farm pond, water harvesting structures, small check dams and contour bunding etc.
2. MoWR RD & GR- Undertake various measures for creation of assured irrigation source, construction of diversion canals, field channels, water diversion/lift irrigation, including development of water distribution systems
3. Ministry of Agriculture- Promote efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices like drips, sprinklers, pivots, rain-guns in the farm “(Jal Sinchan)”, construction of micro-irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities, extension activities for promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures

Objectives:

• Achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level
• Har Khet ko pani- Expand cultivable area under assured irrigation
• More crop per drop- Improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water & enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies
• Enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices by exploring the feasibility of reusing treated municipal based water for peri-urban agriculture
• Attract greater private investment in precision irrigation system.

Features:

#1. Financial outlay- Rs. 50,000 crore over a period of five years (2015-16 to 2019-20)

#2. Bringing under a common platform- all the concerned Agencies engaged in creation/ use/ recycling/ potential recycling of water

This will ensure that a comprehensive and holistic view of the entire “water cycle” is taken into account and proper water budgeting is done for all sectors namely, household, agriculture and industries

#3. Decentralized State level planning and execution structure

• This will allow states to draw up a District Irrigation Plan (DIP) and a State Irrigation Plan (SIP)
• DIP will have holistic developmental perspective of the district, outlining medium to long term developmental plans
• DIP will integrate three components namely, water sources, distribution network and water use application
• These will be prepared at two levels- the block and the district

#4. Geotagging- All structures created under the schemes will be geotagged

Implementing Committees:

#1. National Steering Committee (NSC):

• It will supervise and monitor the programme at the national level
• This is an Inter-Ministerial committee under the Chairmanship of the Prime
• Minister with Union Ministers of all concerned Ministries

#2. National Executive Committee (NEC):

• It will oversee programme implementation, allocation of resources, inter-ministerial coordination, monitoring and performance assessment, addressing administrative issues etc.
• To be constituted under the Chairmanship of the Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog

#3. State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC):

• It will administer the scheme at the state level
• It will be Chaired by the Chief Secretary of the respective States
• It will have all authority to sanction the project and also monitor the progress of the scheme

#4. District Level Implementation Committee: At the district level; for ensuring last mile coordination at the field level

Now it’s time to solve some IAS prelims questions

1. Consider the following statements: (IAS 2015)1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan assistance to poor farmers.
   2. The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 for the development of water-use efficiency.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 only
   (b) 2 only
   (c) Both 1 and 2
   (d) Neither 1 nor 2

2. consider following pairs:
   Programme/ Project	Ministry
   1. Drought-Prone Area Programme	of Agriculture
   2. Desert Development Programme	of Environment and Forests
   3. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas	of Rural Development

    

   Which of the above pairs are correctly matched? (IAS 2014)

   1. 1 and 2 only
   2. 3 only
   3. 1, 2 and 3
   4. None
3. What are the benefits of implementing the ‘Integrated Watershed Development Programme’? (IAS 2014)
   1. Prevention of soil runoff
   2. Linking the country’s perennial rivers with seasonal rivers
   3. Rainwater harvesting and recharge of ground water table
   4. Regeneration of natural vegetation

   Select the correct answer using the code given below.

   1. 1 and 2 only
   2. 2, 3 and 4 only
   3. 1, 3 and 4 only
   4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
4. With reference to micro-irrigation, which of the following statements is/are correct? (IAS 2011)
   1. Fertilizer/nutrient loss can be reduced
   2. It is the only means of irrigation in dry land farming.
   3. In some areas of farming, receding of ground water table can be checked.

   Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

   (a.) 1 only (b.) 2 and 3 only (c.) 1 and 3 only (d.) 1, 2 and 3

Suggested Readings-

• Watershed management is an integral componenet of PMKSY and Neeranchal project is launched as the watershed component of the PMKSY. To read about Nerranchal, read this awesome blog with video and infographic-Neeranchal National watershed project
• Follow this story for updates on developments in irrigation- Irrigation In India: Issues & Developments

Published with inputs from Swapnil