Read About Irrigation in India
The government of India launched Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Program (AIBP) in 1996-97. This program was launched to give loan assistance to the states to help them a few major irrigation projects which were in advanced stage of completion. In this program major, medium and Extension, Renovation & Modernization (ERM) irrigation projects which were having investment clearance of Planning Commission and were in advanced stage of construction and can be completed in the next four financial year and also were not receiving any other form of financial assistance were considered for inclusion in the programme.
Surface minor irrigation (MI) schemes of states of North-East, Hilly states (Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttaranchal) and drought prone KBK districts of Orissa which were approved by State TAC / State Planning Department will be eligible for assistance since 1999-2000.
Assistance :
The assistance of the Central and State share of 2:1. If Projects are completed within stipulated period then the loan assistance is liberalized 30% grant. New Projects are considered for assistance in lieu of completed ones. Project to be completed within 3 years period, considered under fast track. The financial assistanse from Central Govt. will be considered as 70% loan and 30% grant. Grant Component was added in the programme from 2004.
The criteria for assistance under AIBP was further relaxed in 2005. In this relaxation the minor irrigation schemes of non special category State with potential of more than 100 hectares with preference to tribal and drought prone areas with a benefit to dalits and adivasis included.
Data: A cumulative amount of Rs. 23,231. 8659 crore has been released as central assistance in the form of loan/grant under AIBP up to April 2007 which includes a grant component of Rs.3793.98 crore released for the year 2006-07.
A cumulative amount of Rs. 24867.4 crore was provided to state governments as CLA/ grant up to January 2008.
In January 2005, Government of India sanctioned a National Project for Repair, Renovation & Restoration of water bodies directly linked to agriculture, with an estimate of Rs. 300 crore to be shared by the centre and states in the ratio of 3:1.
A pilot scheme was approved for 26 districts in 15 states with CCA of more than 2000 hectares.
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