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Irrigation projects delay led to jump in costs: CAG
What CAG report says?
- Tardy implementation of projects under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) between 2008-2017 led to an almost threefold jump in the cost of these projects to ₹1.20 lakh crore
AIBP and implementation challenge
- The AIBP was initiated in 1996 as a Central scheme to speed up the implementation of large irrigation projects, including dams and canals, especially those which were beyond the resource capability of the States.
- The Union Ministry of Water Resources is responsible for framing policy guidelines for implementation while State Governments are associated with planning and implementing irrigation projects and schemes.
- From 2008-2017, of the 201 major and medium (M&M) projects approved, only 62 were completed.
- Of the 11,291 minor irrigation (MI) schemes sanctioned, only 8,014 were completed.
- As a result, only about 35% of India’s irrigation potential was utilised.
- Of the 118 major projects surveyed by the CAG, 105 suffered from a “time overrun” with some projects being delayed by more than 18 years.
- The audit of the AIBP revealed lacunae in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the programme.
- Projects and schemes were included under AIBP in violation of the programme’s guidelines, resulting in irregular release of ₹3,718.71 crore.
- There were also deficiencies in the preparation and processing of Detailed Project Reports such as inadequate surveys, inaccurate assessment of water availability, Irrigation Potential and Command Area and the lack of activity-wise construction plans.
Source
The Hindu