4.45 million irrigation Dugwells proposed to be recharged under Dugwell Rechage Scheme

RS. 536.75 CRORE SANCTIONEDTO NABARD BY M/O FINANCE 
A State sector scheme of ‘Artificial Recharge to Ground Water through Dug wells’ aims to facilitate improvement in the groundwater situation in the affected areas, increase the sustainability of wells during lean period, and improve quality of ground water and community involvement in water resource management in the affected areas. Total number of irrigation dug wells proposed for recharge is 4.45 million. Of which 2.72 million dug wells owned by small and marginal farmers and 1.73 million dug wells owned by other farmers. The average cost of recharge structure per well is Rs. 4000. The beneficiaries would be farmers having owned wells in their agricultural land. The provision has been made for 100% subsidy to small and marginal farmers and 50% subsidy to other farmers. 

The scheme has been launched in over-exploited, critical and semi-critical assessment units of 7 states viz. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to provide sustainability to the dug wells during 11th Five Year Plan. The Scheme is under implementation in 1180 over-exploited, critical and semi-critical blocks in these States. The total cost of the scheme is Rs. 1798.71 crore including the subsiding component of Rs. 1499.27 crore. The Scheme is to be implemented on ‘Cluster approach basis’ in a time span of three years from 2007-2010. 

Fund amounting to Rs. 536.75 crore has been sanctioned to NABARD by the Ministry of Finance. During 2008-09 (till 30th April 2009), funds amounting to Rs. 158.18 crore which include Rs. 139.18 crore as subsidy to beneficiaries and 19 crore for IEC/capacity building activities have been sanctioned to the concerned States under the above scheme. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Ground Water Departments are providing technical guidance and creating awareness amongst beneficiaries.