Home | Schemes | Minor Irrigation Schemes
 

More than fifteen percent areas of the total areas of Gujarat is irrigated by Minor Irrigation Sources. The main river of the state are in south and central Gujarat. Agriculture by small irrigation is life lies in inaccessible villages rocky areas and tribal areas thus Minor Irrigation Schemes are as important as Major Irrigation Schemes.

            The schemes having irrigation land upto 500 hectares are considered as Minor Irrigation Scheme. The work of Minor Irrigation Consists of Minor Irrigation Schemes, Lift irrigation schemes, Tube well irrigation schemes, upto June 2003 irrigation potential was generated in 2.65 lakh hectares and its use was of 1.63 lakh hectares upto the end of 2002-2003, irrigation potential will be generated in 2.69 lakh hectares by surface irrigation schemes and in 3.08 lakh hectare by ground water development schemes, by June 2004.

            Under Gujarat Panchayat Act. Minor Irrigation is a subject of The Panchayats. Thus the entire responsibility of survey investigation, research, estimates for minor irrigation schemes rests with the District Panchayats. However in view of limited financial sources of the state in order to accord priority to scarcity affected areas, tribal areas and areas having no sources of irrigation previous is required to be made in a planned manner. The state is to ensure that it is implemented as per plan.

            In order to bring the works of Minor Irrigation works carried out during scarcity years to a safe and to maximum the use of funds invested, a provision of Rs. 1520.00 lakh has been made under plan head in the year 2002-2003.

         Thus the state government has given the responsibility to District Panchayats for construction of Minor Irrigation Schemes up to 60 hectare. C.C.A. and its operation, while the responsibility of construction of schemes from 60 to 2000 hectare C.C.A. and its operation is rests with the state government.

            Keeping this aim in order to provide guidance to the panchayat for formulation of schemes and estimates and double objective of verification of technical approval, a central Design organization (Minor Irrigation) is started at the state level in 1963.

            The offices of Panchayat Irrigation circle are working at Bhuj, Gandhinagar, Vadodara and Rajkot for the works of Minor Irrigation at state levels. The office at Bhuj is looking after the work of Kutch District. The Vadodara office is looking after the works of Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Valsad, Dangs, Navsari, Panchmahals, Dahod and Narmada Districts whereas the circle office at Gandhinagar is looking after the work of Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Banaskantha, Patan, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Kheda and Surendranagar Districts. The works of Minor Irrigation schemes of Amreli, Bhavanagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh and Rajkot District are looked after by Rajkot Panchayat Irrigation Circle.

            Construction and maintenance work of tube wells under the state is carried out by Gujarat Water Resources Development Corporation Ltd. Gandhinagar.

[Top]