As per the information collected in the 4th Minor irrigation Census (2006-07), the total number of water bodies used for irrigation in the country was 523816. Out of this, the number of water bodies in use and not in use is 443688 and 80128 respectively.
As per the constitution, water, inter-alia including water bodies is a State subject and any corrective measures for removal of encroachment is primarily the responsibility of the State Government. However, under the Scheme of Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies, it is envisaged to provide central assistance for restoration of about 10,000 water bodies, at a cost of Rs. 6235 crore, to restore an irrigation potential of 6.235 lakh hectare.
The central assistance is provided in the form of grant, which is 90% of the project cost in special category States (NE States, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Uttarakhand and undivided KBK districts of Odisha), projects lying in drought prone, tribal, desert prone as well as left wing extremism affected areas and 25% of the project cost in the case of non-special category States/areas.
This was stated by Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Samir/jk
(Release ID :107357)