Push for AIBP funds to projects

Telangana State Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao says the State will get 1,185 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme and
2,825 crore from Nabard for completing all the pending projects

New Delhi: The Committee constituted to review Prime Minister's Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) here on Tuesday recommended to the government to expedite fund releases to the AIBP (Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme) projects and arrange soft loans from Nabard to the State to complete all pending projects within the stipulated time.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Telangana State Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao said the committee worked out the road map for completion of 89 ongoing priority projects, 11 of which are in Telangana (under priority-I and one under priority-II).

The committee recommended to the Centre that for all those States providing details of budget allotted during 2016-17 for irrigation projects to be completed by the end of 2017 and spent the same the releases should not be delayed.

As far as 20 per cent cost escalation on approved cost (AIBP component) of project as on March 2012 was considered it would be allowed, for which, no separate clearance would be required for funding these projects.

However, as the revised cost might be more than the 20 per cent over and above the approved cost (of 2012) it was recommended to fast-track proforma and arrange for soft loans from NABARD, over and above the FRBM limits of the States. Moreover, if the projects got completed within the stipulated period, then the Centre should pay the interest on the same as an incentive to the States.

The meeting said the existing gap between irrigation potential created and utilised project-wise for all on-going and completed AIBP projects would be required to be prepared by the State governments and CWC team with clear-cut roadmap for each minor distributary for utilisation of 100 per cent potential backed by working Water Users Associations, micro irrigation etc.

The committee also recommended that projects under Desert Development Programme area should be treated on a par with projects in Drought Prone Area Programme for Central Assistance for ongoing projects also. Strengthening of the regional offices of the Central Water Commission and Engineering in Chief offices in States must be done immediately and the two should meet monthly to resolve various issues.

Strengthening of manpower and technology, greater delegation of power and effective coordination mechanism with the States must be adopted at the earliest, the committee suggested. As for the fund release, the first instalment should be released in the first fortnight of April and the second on utilisation of 50 per cent of earlier grant.

The meeting also observed that there were a number of States which did not have projects under Priority I and II, therefore it was recommended that 25 per cent of the funds being arranged through NABARD for completion of ongoing projects might be arranged for considering new projects in those States, Harish Rao said. Such projects should also be completed by 2020, he added. As for Telangana State, it would be getting Rs 1,185 crore under the AIBP and Rs 2,825 crore under NABARD for completing all the projects, he added.