The Union Government launched Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
in 1996-97 for providing financial assistance to States, with an objective of
expediting completion of ongoing Major/Medium including Extension, Renovation
and Modernization (ERM) irrigation projects and Surface Minor Irrigation
schemes. The guidelines for such scheme are being revised from time to time in
order to widen the scope of funding as well as to allow special consideration
for the regions lagging behind in development, which presently include
north-eastern states, hilly states, drought prone and tribal areas, KBK
districts of Orissa, states with lower irrigation development as compared to
national average and districts identified under PM package for agrarian
distressed districts in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and
Kerala.
The
pace of the progress of projects was affected by the reduction in the funds
availability as well as issues related to land acquisition. The Ministry of
Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has identified 23
priority projects and funds have been made available to complete these projects
by 2017. Central Water Commission has been assigned the responsibility to
comprehensively monitoring the projects receiving Central Assistance. Selected
minor surface water irrigation projects receiving Central Assistance are also
monitored by CWC. As a part of AIBP monitoring, the projects are inspected and
the status reports are prepared and issued to all concerned. The
recommendations of CWC form the basis for release of funds by this Ministry.
Various
suggestions from State Governments were received on modification of XII Plan
guidelines of AIBP. Based on these suggestions, the guidelines have been
refined, to freeze the cost of ongoing projects at the time of inclusion of the
Project in the AIBP; permit cost escalation by a maximum of 20%; and ensure
Parri-Passu implementation of AIBP and Command Area Development and Water Management Programme in a timely manner.
At present, as per the latest
modifications in AIBP guidelines made in October, 2013, the projects which are
in an advanced stage of construction and can be completed within a period of 4
years after their inclusion in AIBP and are fulfilling other eligibility
criteria are provided Central Assistance (CA). The eligibility criteria for
inclusion of project for assistance under the programme are as follows:
For
Major/Medium projects;
1) The
project must have investment clearance of Planning commission,
2) Project
is in ‘advance stage of construction’ and could be completed in next 4
financial years and
3) Project
or component of the project proposed for AIBP is not receiving any other form
of financial assistance
4) An
ongoing major/ medium project can be included in AIBP on completion of an
ongoing project under AIBP on one to one basis
5) The
following category of projects could be included in AIBP in relaxation of one
to one criteria stated above :
a. Projects
benefiting Drought Prone Area(DPA)/Desert Prone Area(DDP)/ Tribal areas
b. Projects
in states having irrigation development below National Average
c.
Projects
in the districts identified under PM package for agrarian distressed districts
in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.
Advance
stage of construction imply that the projects which are have more than 50%
physical progress of major components and 50% financial progress as per latest
approved estimated cost.
For
ERM projects;
1) Projects having
investment clearance of Planning commission.
2) Projects already
completed and commissioned atleast 10 years earlier from the proposed year of
inclusion under AIBP and Inclusion may be permitted in the states/projects
(i)
Which
have agreed to reform in water sector i.e. to implement Micro Irrigation in at
least 10% of command area.
OR
(ii)
Which have enacted Participatory Irrigation Management legislation and
active working of Water User Association to maintain the system and collecting
water cess.
OR
(iii) Where
new potential is also envisaged along with restoration of lost potential.
OR
(iv)
CAD works have been completed or taken up and likely to be completed.
Surface minor irrigation (MI) schemes
Surface minor irrigation (MI) schemes
(both new as well as ongoing) of Special category states -North-Eastern
states, Hilly states (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand) and
drought prone undivided Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi (KBK) districts of
Odisha which are approved by State TAC will be eligible for assistance under
the programme provided that (i) individual schemes have Culturable Command
Area (CCA) of 10 hectare and cluster of MI schemes within radius of 5 Km having
CCA of 20 hectare (ii) proposed MI schemes have benefit cost ratio of more
than 1 and (iii) the development cost per hectare of CCA of individual scheme
is less than Rs.2.5 lakh.
For Non-special category states, the
individual surface minor irrigation schemes having CCA of 20 hectare and
cluster of MI schemes within radius of 5 km. having total CCA of 50 hectare
benefitting tribal areas, drought prone areas, desert prone areas and Left Wing
Extremists Affected area are eligible for assistance under AIBP.
Terms of Funding
It may be noted that the funding pattern
are subject to revision with reference to new order of Ministry of Finance
regarding changes in funding pattern of various centrally sponsored schemes
(Annexure-I (A)).
Mode
of Disbursement;
As per operational guidelines of PMKSY
funds are to be released as follows:-
60%
of the PMKSY annual allocation will be released as first installment to the
State, upon the receipt of the minutes of SLSC approving implementation of new
projects and/or continuation of ongoing projects during the financial year
alongwith lists of projects approved. Release of funds will be made by the
respective Ministry/department for the specific component. The concerned
implementation ministries/department will be responsible to ensure receipt of
utilisation certificate and corresponding physical and financial progress while
releasing the funds for the specific component. The utilisation certificate is
to be submitted by the respective implementing department /agency in the
state.
In
case, total cost of approved project is less than annual outlay, funds to the
tune of 60% of approved project cost will be released.
Release of the second and final
installment would be considered on receipt of the following:
(a)
More than 90% Utilization Certificates (UCs) for the funds released upto
previous financial year;
(b)
Utilisation Certificates (UCs) of at least 50% of funds released in first
installment during current year; and
(c)
Performance report in terms of physical and financial achievements as well as
outcomes, within the stipulated time frame in specified format.
Change
in funding pattern of Centrally Sponsored Schemes
In pursuance of the Ministry of
Finance Orders of the 28th October, 2015 the following changes have
been introduced in the funding pattern of Centrally Sponsored Schemes with
respect to PMKSY:
1. The funding of the PMKSY will be
shared 60:40 between the Centre and the States (90:10 for the 8 NE States and 3
Himalayan States). As some components of PMKSY have a central funding pattern
less than the level mentioned above, the existing funding pattern will
continue. Accordingly, the funding pattern for AIBP will be changed
as follows:-
Central
Assistance (CA) is in the form of central grant and Major/Medium Irrigation
projects are eligible for;
i.
On-going
and new projects benefiting the non-Special Category States may continue to be
provided Central Assistance at 25% of the cost apportionable to irrigation and
drinking water components. However, the quantum of Central Assistance could be
enhanced upto 50% as an incentive for new projects subject to the condition
that the States actually carry out water sector reforms' as per the reform
benchmarks to be laid down by the Ministry of Water Resources in due course.
ii.
For
ongoing projects in Special areas of Non-special Category States, the Central
Assistance under AIBP will be 60% of the cost of the project (work component)
for eligible irrigation projects
iii.
For
new projects in Special areas( benefitting Drought prone areas, Tribal areas,
Flood Prone Area ) of Non-special Category States, the Central Assistance under
AIBP will be 60% of the cost of the project (work component) for eligible
irrigation projects
iv.
Ongoing
projects benefiting 8 NE States and 3 Himalayan States may continue to be
eligible for 90% Central Assistance.
v.
For
new projects in 8 NE States and 3 Himalayan States, the Central Assistance
under AIBP will be 90% of the cost of the project (work component) for eligible
Irrigation projects.
vi.
For
the purpose of determining the quantum of assistance, a project benefiting
Desert Development Programme (DDP) area/Desert Prone Area will be treated on a
par with those benefiting DPAP areas and the new projects will be eligible for
Central Assistance @ 60% for projects in Non-Special Category States.
The DDP areas is as identified by
the Ministry of Rural Development in their published documents. The ongoing
projects already under AIBP and benefiting Desert Development Programme (DDP)
/Desert Prone Area will continue to get Central Assistance @ 25%
Till finalization of reform
benchmarks by MOWR, following measures will be considered as water reforms 1)
Measurement on volumetric basis, 2) participatory Irrigation Management, 3)
Active working of Water User Association, 4) Micro Irrigation, 5) Collection at
water cess by Water User Association, and 6) Maintenance by Water User
Association. With implementation of any three of the above, the State
Government will become eligible for enhanced funding.
The Special
Areas for major/medium irrigation projects will denote DPAP areas, Tribal
areas, Flood prone areas.
Surface minor
irrigation (MI) schemes
i.
Ongoing
schemes of Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP)/Tribal Area (TA) of Non-Special
Category States will get Central Assistance at the rate of 60 %.
ii.
Ongoing
schemes benefiting 8 NE States and 3 Himalayan States may continue to be
eligible for 90% Central Assistance.
iii.
For
new projects in Special areas of Non-special Category States, the Central
Assistance under AIBP will be 60% of the cost of the project (work component)
for eligible irrigation projects
iv.
For
new projects in 8 NE States and 3 Himalayan States, the Central Assistance
under AIBP will be 90% of the cost of the project (work component) for eligible
Irrigation projects.
The balance funds are to be arranged by the State Government from its own
resources.
This information was given by
Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation Prof. Sanwar Lal Jat in a
written reply in Lok Sabha
today.
Samir/jk