Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Jal Shakti addressed a question regarding drought conditions in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) during the monsoon season. While no official drought declaration has been issued, deficient rainfall has partially impacted rice transplantation and paddy cultivation. The Assam government is providing irrigation and working to revive defunct schemes, supported by central government projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Rainfall and Drought Status:**
* The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) has experienced deficient rainfall during the current monsoon season.
* The Government of Assam is monitoring water-stressed areas.
* No official drought notification has been issued for BTR.
* **Impact on Agriculture:**
* Deficient rainfall has partially affected rice transplantation and paddy cultivation.
* Approximately 258.9 hectares of paddy seedlings and 42 hectares of transplanted paddy crops have been adversely affected.
* **Government Measures:**
* The State Government of Assam is supplying water to agricultural fields through irrigation schemes, covering 1,03,821 hectares across all five districts of BTR.
* Efforts are underway to revive defunct irrigation schemes and enhance the performance of non-functional or partially functional ones, in convergence with multiple state departments.
* The Central Government is implementing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), including the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and Har Khet Ko Pani Surface Minor Irrigation (HKKPSMI) to improve water security and irrigation infrastructure.
* **Ongoing Schemes in BTR under PMKSY:**
* Several irrigation projects are ongoing under PMKSY-AIBP-CADWM and PMKSY-HKKPSMI, with details provided in an annexure, including estimated costs, targeted command area (CCA), district locations, and current status.
* Ongoing schemes include ERM Sukla Irrigation Project, Dhansiri Irrigation Project CADWM, and Borolia Irrigation Project under PMKSY-AIBP-CADWM.
* Numerous SMI schemes are underway under PMKSY-HKKPSMI targeting thousands of hectares of irrigation potential (IP) creation across multiple districts like Udalguri, Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Tamulpur.
Impact Analysis:
* **Farmers in Bodoland Territorial Region:**
* Impact: Affected by deficient rainfall, leading to potential crop losses and reduced agricultural productivity.
* Action Required: Benefit from the water supply through irrigation schemes and participate in the revival of defunct schemes.
* **Government of Assam:**
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring water-stressed areas, supplying water through irrigation schemes, and reviving defunct irrigation infrastructure.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring the situation, ensure effective water supply, and collaborate with other departments to restore irrigation schemes.
* **Central Government (Ministry of Jal Shakti):**
* Impact: Overseeing and supporting irrigation projects in the region through PMKSY and related programs.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and funding projects to improve water security and irrigation infrastructure in BTR.
Key Entities Referenced
Bodoland Territorial Region: An autonomous region in the state of Assam, India, facing drought conditions.
Assam: A state in India, whose government is monitoring water-stressed areas in the Bodoland Territorial Region and providing support through irrigation schemes.
Jal Shakti: A ministry in the Government of India responsible for water resources and river development.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): A central government scheme aimed at improving water security and irrigation infrastructure in India, with projects being implemented in the Bodoland Territorial Region.
Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP): A component of the PMKSY scheme focused on accelerating the completion of irrigation projects. Projects under AIBP are being implemented in the Bodoland Territorial Region.
Har Khet Ko Pani Surface Minor Irrigation (HKKPSMI): A component of the PMKSY scheme focused on providing irrigation to every farm through surface minor irrigation. Projects under HKKPSMI are being implemented in the Bodoland Territorial Region.
Agriculture, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, and Revenue and Disaster Management: Departments of the State Government of Assam converging to revive defunct irrigation schemes and enhance the performance of nonfunctional and partially functional ones.
SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY: Member of Lok Sabha who asked the unstarred question regarding drought in Bodoland Territorial Region
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3102
ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025
DROUGHT IN BODOLAND TERRITORIAL REGION
3102. SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the Bodoland Territorial Region is facing acute drought even in the monsoon season
and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware that this drought has impacted adversely on the rice
transplantation/paddy farming and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is considering to take some measures to provide immediate help through the
irrigation system; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b) The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) has witnessed deficient rainfall during the current
monsoon season. The Government of Assam is actively monitoring water-stressed areas within the region.
However, no official notification has been issued declaring a drought in BTR.
The deficient rainfall has had a partial impact on rice transplantation and paddy cultivation. According to
information provided by the Government of Assam, approximately 258.9 hectares of paddy seedlings and 42
hectares of transplanted paddy crops have been adversely affected.
(c) & (d) The State Government of Assam is supplying water to agricultural fields across all five districts
of the BTR through various irrigation schemes, covering a total area of 1,03,821 hectares.
In addition, the State Government is actively working to revive defunct irrigation schemes and enhance
the performance of non-functional and partially functional ones. These efforts are being undertaken through
convergence with the Departments of Agriculture, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, and Revenue and
Disaster Management, with the objective of making these schemes fully operational.
Furthermore, the Central Government is implementing several projects and schemes in the Bodoland
Territorial Region under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), including the Accelerated
Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and Har Khet Ko Pani – Surface Minor Irrigation (HKKP–SMI). These
initiatives aim to strengthen water security and improve irrigation infrastructure across the region.
Details of the ongoing schemes in BTR under PMKSY–AIBP and PMKSY–HKKP (SMI) are provided at
Annexure.
***
1ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) & (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.
3102 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.08.2025 REGARDING “DROUGHT IN
BODOLAND TERRITORIAL REGION”.
Status of Ongoing Schemes in BTR, Assam under PMKSY-AIBP/CADWM and
PMKSY-HKKP(SMI)
S.No. Scheme Estimated Cost CCA (Ha) District CA Status/Remark
(Cr) Benefitted granted
till date
(Cr)
PMKSY-AIBP/CADWM Irrigation Projects
1 ERM- Rs. 258.47Crore 4795 Ha Tamulpur Rs. 84.99 Sukla Irrigation
Sukla and Kamrup Cr Project originally
Irrigation Completed & it’s
Project ERM Ongoing
2 AIBP Rs. 38615 Ha Rs. Completed
Dhansiri 425.13 Udalguri 226.60
Irrigation Cr Cr
Project CADWM Rs. 31115 Ha Rs. 9.73 Ongoing. CA
151.99 Cr Proposal has been
Cr received in FY
2025-26.
3 Borolia Rs. 256.16 Cr 9717 Ha Tamulpur Rs. 29.80 Partially completed
Irrigation Cr (3300 Ha CCA
Project created)
PMKSY-HKKP(SMI) Schemes
1 100 no. Rs. 500.34 Cr 27831 Udalguri, Rs. 44.43 2 no. schemes
SMI Ha(Targeted Kokrajhar, Cr completed.
schemes IP) Baksa, Irrigation Potential
Chirang, Created till date-
Tamulpur 7035 Ha
2 152 no. Rs. 360.47 Cr 32357 Ha Kokrajhar, Rs. 144 no. schemes
SMI (Targeted IP) Chirang, 315.32 completed.
schemes Baksa, Cr Irrigation Potential
Udalguri Created till date -
28087 Ha
3 15 no. Rs. 198.507 Cr 16645 Ha Kokrajhar, Rs. 13 no. schemes
SMI (Targeted IP) Chirang, 172.60 completed.
schemes Baksa, Cr Irrigation Potential
Udalguri Created till date -
14184 Ha
4 60 no. Rs. 615.375 Cr 48184 Ha Kokrajhar, Rs. 55 no. schemes
SMI (Targeted IP) Chirang, 526.81 completed.
schemes Baksa, Cr Irrigation Potential
Udalguri Created till date -
41743 Ha
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