Executive Summary:
This document contains the Minister of State for Jal Shakti's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 696 regarding irrigation coverage in Tamil Nadu, with specific attention to Dharmapuri district. The response addresses the area brought under irrigation, funds allocated and utilized, irrigation coverage targets, and steps taken to modernize irrigation infrastructure. The information provided covers the period of the last three years and the current year, with data current as of July 24, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Role of Central Government:** The Government of India's role is catalytic, offering technical support and partial financial assistance for identified projects. Water resource projects are planned, executed, funded, and maintained by State Governments.
* **Irrigation Coverage Details:**
* Specific details regarding projects implemented under Central and State schemes, as well as area brought under irrigation in Tamil Nadu and Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency are given in Annexure I.
* Various projects such as Formation of Flood Carrier Canal, Repair, Renovation Restoration RRR of water bodies Phases IV to IX ,Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project TNIAMP Barrage in river Kollidam, AthikadavuAvinashi scheme, Flood surplus diversion from Mettur dam ,ERM in Noyyal sub basin, ERM in Kattalai canal ,ERM in Rajavoikkal irrigation system, ERM in Lower Bhavani, ERM in Cauvery basin, ERM in Grand Anicut Project have been implemented.
* For Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency RRRPhaseVI, RRRPhaseVIII, Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project III TNIAMPIII Project have been implemented.
* **Funding and Utilization:**
* Details of funds allocated and utilized for enhancing irrigation facilities in Tamil Nadu under various Central and State schemes, including specific figures for Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency, are provided in Annexure II.
* For Tamil Nadu, under Plan Scheme the fund allocated for 2022-2025 is Rs. 12,946.02 Crore and expenditure is Rs. 11,485.87 Crore.
* For Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency, under Plan Scheme the fund allocated for 2022-2025 is Rs. 86.38 Crore and expenditure is Rs. 51.99 Crore.
* **Irrigation Coverage Targets:** The State Government has reported that there are no set targets for expanding irrigation coverage in Tamil Nadu and Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency for the current fiscal year.
* **Modernization and Upgrading Efforts:** The Government has undertaken various projects to modernize and upgrade existing irrigation infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, including Extension, Renovation, and Modernization (ERM) projects and the Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project (TNIAMP), which has also been implemented in Dharmapuri district.
* **Micro Irrigation:** Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, a total of 12,38,365 ha area has been covered under micro irrigation during 2015-2025 in Tamil Nadu.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments:**
* Impact: Responsible for planning, executing, funding, and maintaining water resource projects.
* Action Required: Continue to manage and prioritize irrigation projects according to their own resources.
* **Farmers in Tamil Nadu (Specifically Dharmapuri):**
* Impact: Affected by the modernization and upgrading of irrigation infrastructure, as well as the implementation of micro-irrigation techniques.
* Action Required: Utilize the upgraded infrastructure and adopt micro-irrigation techniques to improve water use efficiency and crop productivity.
* **Ministry of Jal Shakti:**
* Impact: Limited to providing technical support and partial financial assistance.
* Action Required: Continue to play a catalytic role in supporting the State Governments in their irrigation projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu: A state in India, the primary focus of the irrigation coverage analysis.
Dharmapuri district: A district in Tamil Nadu, specifically mentioned as a region of interest for irrigation projects.
Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency: A parliamentary constituency in Tamil Nadu, used as a specific area for reporting irrigation data.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna: A central government scheme focused on irrigation and water management.
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna: A central government scheme focused on agriculture development.
Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project TNIAMP: A project implemented in Tamil Nadu to modernize irrigation infrastructure.
Per Drop More Crop PDMC: A centrally sponsored scheme implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna focusing on micro-irrigation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 696
ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025
IRRIGATION COVERAGE IN TAMIL NADU
696. SHRI MANI A
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the total area brought under irrigation through major and minor irrigation projects in Tamil Nadu
particularly in Dharmapuri district during the last three years and the current year;
(b) the details of funds allocated and utilized for enhancing irrigation facilities in Tamil Nadu under various
Central and State schemes during the said period with specific figures for the Dharmapuri Lok Sabha
Constituency;
(c) whether the Government has set any targets for expanding irrigation coverage in Tamil Nadu for the
current fiscal year and if so, the details thereof, district-wise with specific reference to Dharmapuri; and
(d) the specific steps taken by the Government to modernize and upgrade existing irrigation infrastructure
in Tamil Nadu and ensure equitable distribution of water among farmers with a focus on Dharmapuri
district?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) Water resources projects are planned, executed, funded and maintained by the State Governments
themselves as per their own resources and priorities. Role of Government of India is limited to being
catalytic, extending technical support and providing partial financial assistance to a few identified projects
under the ongoing schemes of this Ministry.
The details of projects implemented under various Central and State schemes in irrigation sector
along with details of area brought under irrigation in Tamil Nadu and Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency
are given in Annexure-I.
(b) The details of funds allocated and utilized for enhancing irrigation facilities in Tamil Nadu under
various Central and State schemes in Tamil Nadu and Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency are given in
Annexure-II.
(c) As reported by the State Government, there are no targets set for expanding irrigation coverage in
Tamil Nadu and Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency for the current fiscal year.
(d) Various projects have been undertaken by the Government to modernize and upgrade existing
irrigation infrastructure in Tamil Nadu. This includes projects of Extension, Renovation, and
Modernization (ERM) and Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project (TNIAMP). Tamil
Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project has also been implemented in Dharmapuri district.
In addition, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, total
12,38,365 ha area has been covered under micro irrigation during 2015-2025, in Tamil Nadu.
***
1ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 696
TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.07.2025 REGARDING “IRRIGATION COVERAGE
IN TAMIL NADU”
Details in respect of Tamil Nadu
Sl. No. Name of Project Scheme (Central/State) Area brought under
Irrigation in Hectare in
last 3-4 years
1. Formation of Flood Carrier Partial funding under Pradhan Mantri 3,264
Canal from Kannadian Krishi Sinchai Yojana - Accelerated
Channel Irrigation Benefits Programme
(PMKSY-AIBP)
2. Repair, Renovation & Partial funding under Pradhan Mantri 9,540
Restoration (RRR) of water Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Her Khet Ko
bodies (Phases IV to IX) Pani (PMKSY-HKKP)
3. Tamil Nadu Irrigated State scheme 5,43,000
Agriculture Modernization
Project (TNIAMP)*
4. Barrage in river Kollidam State scheme 10,945
5. Athikadavu-Avinashi -do- 9,902
scheme
6. Flood surplus diversion -do- 1,715
from Mettur dam
7. ERM in Noyyal sub basin -do- 2,833
8. ERM in Kattalai canal -do- 9,621
9. ERM in Rajavoikkal -do- 5,174
irrigation system
10. ERM in Lower Bhavani -do- 1,00,057
11. ERM in Cauvery basin -do- 1,89,127
12. ERM in Grand Anicut -do- 92,054
*Project covers only stabilization of irrigation area over a period of 7years since 2018.
Details in respect of Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency, Tamil Nadu
Sl. No. Name of Project Scheme (Central/State) Area brought under
Irrigation in Hectare in
last 3 years
1. RRR-Phase-VI Partial funding under Pradhan 678
Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Her
Khet Ko Pani (PMKSY-HKKP)
2. RRR-Phase-VIII Partial funding under Pradhan 152
Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Her
Khet Ko Pani (PMKSY-HKKP)
3. Tamil Nadu Irrigated State scheme 834
Agriculture Modernization
Project- III (TNIAMP-III)*
*Project covers only stabilization of irrigation area over a period of 7years since 2018.
2ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 696
TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.07.2025 REGARDING “IRRIGATION COVERAGE
IN TAMIL NADU”
Details in respect of Tamil Nadu
Sl. No. State Scheme & Year Fund (Rs. in Crore) Expenditure (Rs. in Crore)
1. Plan Scheme (2022-2025) 12,946.02 11,485.87
Details in respect of Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency, Tamil Nadu
Sl. No. State Scheme & Year Fund (Rs. in Crore) Expenditure (Rs. in Crore)
1. Plan Scheme (2022-2025) 86.38 51.99
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