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O.I.H
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3845
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27/03/2026
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON IRRIGATION IN UTTARAKHAND
3845. SHRI MAHENDRA BHATT:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether any study has been conducted in Uttarakhand regarding the impact of climate change
on irrigation; and
(b) the alternative measures being adopted to reduce dependence of farmers on rainfall, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under project National Innovations
in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) Project conducted risk and vulnerability assessment of
Indian agriculture to climate change, including Uttarakhand using Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) protocol. A total of 109 districts are categorized as very high and 201
districts as highly vulnerable. In Uttarakhand, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garwal, Pithoragarh,
Bageshwar, Almora, and Champawat districts fall under very high-risk category, while Chamoli and
Pauri Garhwal fall under high-risk category and are vulnerable to moisture stress/drought.
The Govt. launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) during the year
2015-16, with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable areas under
assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation
practices, etc. Under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Program (AIBP) component of PMKSY,
Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project and Lakhwar Multipurpose National Project are being
implemented having targeted irrigation potential of 57.07 thousand ha and 33.78 thousand ha,
respectively, benefits Uttarakhand State and facilitate storage of water during monsoon and itsregulated utilization during lean periods, thereby reducing dependence on rainfall. Under PMKSY–
Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP), so far, about 29.92 thousand hectare irrigation potential has been created
under Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) Scheme in Uttarakhand.
Further, Watershed Development Component of PMKSY (WDC-PMKSY) is being
implemented by Department of Land Resources. The activities undertaken in the scheme, inter alia,
include ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater
harvesting, nursery raising, pasture development, production systems support including micro-
irrigation support, livelihoods for asset-less persons etc.. In Uttarakhand, 62 watershed development
projects have been completed during 2015-16 to 2021-22 and 15 watershed development projects
sanctioned under WDC-PMKSY-2.0 during 2021-26.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing Per Drop More Crop
(PDMC) scheme since 2015-16 in the country. The scheme focuses on enhancing water use
efficiency at farm level through micro irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation. An
area of 35647 ha is covered under micro irrigation since inception in Uttarakhand.
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