Relief works to be part of irrigation plan

The government has proposed changes to the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) guidelines to allow inclusion of rehabilitation works, in addition to the last mile completion of projects.

The exemption would be made in the case of states where there are no major irrigation projects pending completion.

"In case of states like Tamil Nadu and Punjab, where there are not major or medium projects under way, there is a case for including rehabilitation works in the AIBP. However, in other states, the focus will be on projects which can be completed by 2005-06," said a Planning Commission official. The Plan body is working on revising the guidelines.

For rehabilitation and modernisation works, repair, renovation and restoration of all water bodies linked to agriculture, a new programme is likely to be introduced in the Eleventh Plan.

Currently, the AIBP norms allow inclusion of a new project only against a completed project. However, the guidelines are likely to be relaxed to allow inclusion of projects expected to be completed within one year without any need to show a corresponding completed project.