Irrigation in Bharat Nirman

Bharat Nirman was a flagship infrastructure development programme launched by the Government of India in 2005, aimed at accelerating the creation of rural infrastructure across six key sectors — irrigation, roads, housing, water supply, electrification, and telecommunication connectivity. Among these, irrigation played a pivotal role, as it was directly linked to agricultural productivity, rural livelihoods, and food security.
The irrigation component of Bharat Nirman sought to expand irrigation potential across the country by improving water management, modernising existing systems, and creating new irrigation facilities to enhance agricultural growth and reduce dependence on monsoon rainfall.

Objectives of the Irrigation Component

The primary objectives of the Bharat Nirman irrigation programme were to:

1. Develop new irrigation infrastructure through major, medium, and minor projects.
2. Augment existing irrigation capacity by completing incomplete or stalled projects.
3. Improve water-use efficiency through better management and distribution systems.
4. Ensure equitable water distribution to drought-prone and water-scarce regions.
5. Enhance the area under assured irrigation, reducing agricultural risk and ensuring stable farm income.

The overall aim was to create an additional irrigation potential of 10 million hectares (Mha) within four years (2005–2009).

Strategy and Implementation

The irrigation programme under Bharat Nirman was implemented through a combination of central and state-level schemes, focusing on the completion of ongoing projects and expansion of minor irrigation systems.

Key Implementing Agencies:

• Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) (now the Ministry of Jal Shakti)
• Central Water Commission (CWC)
• State Irrigation Departments

The programme was executed through existing irrigation development frameworks, particularly the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), which provided central financial assistance for expediting major and medium irrigation projects.

Major Components Included:

1. Major and Medium Irrigation Projects:
   • Construction and completion of dams, canals, and reservoirs to provide large-scale irrigation coverage.
2. Minor Irrigation (Surface and Groundwater):
   • Development of small tanks, check dams, lift irrigation, tube wells, and groundwater recharge systems.
3. Command Area Development:
   • Improving water distribution networks within the command areas of completed projects to ensure efficient utilisation.
4. Rehabilitation of Old Infrastructure:
   • Renovation of tanks and repair of canals to restore lost irrigation capacity.
5. Watershed Management and Water Harvesting:
   • Promotion of rainwater harvesting and watershed-based approaches to support sustainable irrigation.

Targets and Achievements

Under Bharat Nirman Phase I (2005–09):

• The target was to create an additional irrigation potential of 10 million hectares (Mha).
• Out of this, around 8.6 Mha was reportedly achieved by the end of the first phase, through a mix of major, medium, and minor irrigation projects.

Under Phase II (2009–12):

• An additional 7 million hectares of irrigation potential was targeted.
• The cumulative irrigation potential created by 2012 reached approximately 16 million hectares under the Bharat Nirman initiative.

The majority of the potential was developed through minor irrigation works such as tube wells, bore wells, and small check dams, which offered faster implementation and lower capital investment compared to large projects.

Role of the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)

The AIBP, launched in 1996, became the main instrument for implementing the irrigation goals of Bharat Nirman.
Key features included:

• Central assistance to states for the completion of ongoing major and medium irrigation projects.
• Priority given to projects in drought-prone and rainfed areas.
• Funding support for minor irrigation schemes in tribal and rural regions.

Under Bharat Nirman, more than 280 major and medium irrigation projects and about 1,000 minor irrigation schemes were supported through AIBP funding.

Regional Focus

The programme prioritised regions with low irrigation coverage, including:

• Eastern India: States like Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha with rich groundwater but poor irrigation utilisation.
• Central India: Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, with significant river systems but limited irrigation infrastructure.
• Drought-prone Areas: Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Special emphasis was also placed on the development of minor irrigation systems in the North Eastern states to promote equitable regional growth.

Impact of the Programme

1. Expansion of Irrigation Coverage: The programme helped increase the net irrigated area and reduced the vulnerability of agriculture to monsoon fluctuations.
2. Boost to Agricultural Productivity: Improved irrigation led to higher yields of water-intensive crops like paddy, sugarcane, and vegetables, contributing to national food security.
3. Employment Generation: The construction and maintenance of irrigation structures generated rural employment, both during and after implementation.
4. Groundwater Utilisation: Expansion of tube well and borewell systems improved groundwater utilisation, though it also raised concerns about over-extraction in some regions.
5. Regional Equity: Focus on underdeveloped and drought-prone areas helped reduce regional disparities in irrigation access.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its achievements, several challenges limited the full success of irrigation development under Bharat Nirman:

1. Delayed Project Completion: Large irrigation projects often suffered from land acquisition delays, cost overruns, and slow execution.
2. Water Use Inefficiency: Many command areas faced poor water distribution and maintenance issues, reducing effective irrigation.
3. Groundwater Depletion: Increased dependence on groundwater in some regions led to falling water tables.
4. Environmental Concerns: Unplanned expansion of irrigation sometimes caused soil salinity and waterlogging.
5. Inadequate Operation and Maintenance: Lack of proper upkeep reduced the effectiveness of created irrigation potential.

Post-Bharat Nirman Developments

After the conclusion of Bharat Nirman, irrigation development continued under newer initiatives:

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) (launched in 2015):
  • Aims to achieve “Har Khet Ko Pani” (water to every field).
  • Integrates the AIBP and other water management schemes.
  • Focuses on more crop per drop through micro-irrigation and efficient water management.