Budget 2016: Government should spend money on small scale irrigation projects, caution activists

PUNE: As the Union budget has proposed to spend Rs 86,500 crore on 89 irrigation projects in next five years, activists have cautioned the government to prioratise only such projects, on which, a large portion of the project cost has already been spent and instead prioritise the small scale irrigation projects.

Parineeta Dandekar, Associate Coordinator, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People said, "Recent large irrigation projects, especially in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have been resounding and costly failure. We should not reinvent the wheel but prioritise the small scale irrigation projects, as shown by the success of the Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan of Maharashtra government. Creation of farm ponds is a welcome move."

Finance minister Arun Jaitely announced to bring 80.6 lakh hectare area under irrigation by fast tracking the 89 projects, for which Rs 17,000 crore have been allocated in 2016-17 budget. He announced to create an Irrigation Fund with Nabard and also support creation of 5 lakh farm ponds.

"While spending money on completion of irrigation projects, we need to prioritise by selecting only those projects for which, a large proportion of the total project cost has already been spent. We should not just spend money on a large projects, just because 10%or 20% of the project cost has been spent on it," said Dandekar.