core sector communique

Centre Announces Rs. 3124 Crore Package for two Irrigation Projects in U.P.

Union Ministry of Water Resources has decided to include two irrigation projects of Uttar Pradesh in the scheme of national projects. The projects are “Sarayu Nahar Pariyojana” and “Restoring capacity of Sharda Sahayak Project”. Under the scheme of National Projects, these projects would become eligible for 90% funding from the Central Government. 

 The Sarayu Nahar Pariyojana has been under execution by the State Government of Uttar Pradesh since 1977-78 but could not be completed because of lack of funds with the State Government. Once completed, it would provide an ultimate irrigation potential benefit to 14.04 lakh hectare in the districts of Bahraich, Shrawasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Basti, Sant Kabirnagar, Siddharth Nagar & Gorakhpur. The amount required for completion of the project is Rs. 3238 Cr. Out of which Rs. 2915 Cr. would be provided by the Central Government. The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2016. 

 The Sharda Sahayak Project has been unable to provide benefits to its original capacity because of seepage, siltation and poor maintenance. The estimated money required to restore irrigation potential to 7.9 lakh hectare through stabilization has been estimated to be Rs. 319 Cr. Out of this Rs. 209 Cr. would be borne by the Central Government. Once restored, the project would again provide water for irrigation in the districts of Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki, Raibarali, Pratapgarh, Pilibhit, Faizabad, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Allahabad, Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2012-13. 

 The High Powered Steering Committee for National Projects constituted by the Ministry of Water Resources has cleared both these Projects on 22.12.2011 for inclusion under the scheme of National Projects. The total central contribution on account of these two projects works out to Rs. 3124 crore.