**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti to a question raised in Lok Sabha regarding the impact of poor canal maintenance on agricultural productivity in Andhra Pradesh. It states that canal maintenance is primarily the responsibility of State Governments. The Government of India provides limited support through ongoing schemes. The answer was provided on 18.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Responsibility for Canal Maintenance:**
* Canal maintenance and Command Area Development works are state subjects.
* State Governments are responsible for planning, funding, executing, and maintaining these works.
* The Government of India provides limited catalytic, technical, and financial assistance.
* **Assessment of Impact in Andhra Pradesh:**
* The Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) has not assessed the impact of poor canal maintenance on agricultural productivity.
* Aquatic weed growth and siltation are present in canals, especially in Krishna, Godavari, and Penna delta systems.
* Siltation issues exist in canals of Somasila Project, Telugu Ganga Project, Nagarjuna Sagar Project and Tungabhadra project.
* **Restoration Efforts:**
* GoAP has sanctioned 9,514 works amounting to Rs.629.18 Crore for restoration of irrigation systems.
* These works aim to improve water regulation, efficiency, safety, and reliability of irrigation infrastructure.
* The goal is to ensure free water flow to the tail-end of canal systems.
* 4,947 of these works have been completed so far.
* **Central Assistance:**
* The Government of India provides partial Central Assistance to Extension, Renovation and Modernization (ERM) irrigation projects.
* This assistance is provided under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).
* The objective is to restore lost irrigation potential by renovating old and damaged canal networks.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Primarily responsible for canal maintenance and managing related issues.
* **Action Required:** Continue to plan, fund, execute, and maintain canal systems within their respective states and allocate resources for canal maintenance, monitor siltation and weed growth, and potentially conduct impact assessments on agricultural productivity.
**Farmers in Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Affected by the efficiency and reliability of canal systems, which impact water supply for agriculture, due to poor canal maintenance, especially in Delta areas.
* **Action Required:** May need to advocate for improved canal maintenance and restoration efforts through local channels.
**Government of India**
* **Impact:** Limited role in providing catalytic, technical, and partial financial assistance.
* **Action Required:** Continue providing support through existing schemes, specifically the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: Central ministry responsible for water resources.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP): Irrigation scheme aimed at restoring irrigation potential.
Andhra Pradesh: State where the impact of poor canal maintenance is being assessed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3107
ANSWERED ON 18.12.2025
IMPACT OF POOR CANAL MAINTENANCE ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
3107. Dr. C M RAMESH:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of poor canal maintenance on agricultural productivity
in Andhra Pradesh;
(b) if so, the findings of such assessment along with the details of the districts most affected;
(c) whether the water flow to tail-end areas of canal systems has been severely reduced due to heavy siltation
and aquatic weed growth;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to restore the full water carrying capacity of
canals and to prevent recurrence of such problems?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) to (d) Canals maintenance and Command Area Development works are State subject and are planned,
funded, executed and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and
priority. Role of Government of India is limited to being catalytic, providing technical support, and partial
financial assistance to a few identified projects under the ongoing schemes of this Ministry.
Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) has informed that no assessment on impact of poor canal
maintenance on agricultural productivity has been carried out in Andhra Pradesh. However, there is aquatic
weed growth and siltation in canals mostly in Delta areas like Krishna, Godavari and Penna delta systems
and there are siltation issues in canals of Somasila Project, Telugu Ganga Project, Nagarjuna Sagar Project
and Tungabhadra project high level canal system.
(e) GoAP has informed that it has accorded sanction for 9,514 works amounting to Rs.629.18 Crore for
restoration of irrigation systems for effective water regulation, to improve the efficiency, safety, and
reliability of irrigation infrastructure. These works aim for free flow of water through canal systems to ensure
water supply to the ayacut up to tail end. Out of these, 4,947 works have been completed, so far.
The Government of India also provides partial Central Assistance to certain identified Extension,
Renovation and Modernization (ERM) irrigation projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee
Yojana–Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP), with the objective of restoring lost
irrigation potential through the renovation of old and damaged canal networks.
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