Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

The scheme has basically combined three active projects under various ministries which is as follows:

1. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (Ministry of Water Resources)
2. Integrated Watershed Management Program (Ministry of Rural Development)
3. Farm Water Management project of the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana was launched by the government with an aim to bring various ministries engaged in the use and recycling of water under one platform. Such an initiative will help in water budgeting based on purpose such as household, agriculture, and industries.

An overview of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

1. The project was allocated Rs.5,300 crores for the fiscal year 2015-16 and the total allocation for the next five years is expected to be around Rs.50,000 crores
2. PMKSY seeks to provide a complete solution to farm level irrigation requirements and it has a tagline “Har Khet Ko Pani” which means assured irrigation for every farm
3. The project also aims to integrate irrigation with the latest technological practices and cover more cultivable areas under assured irrigation
4. Increase the implementation of water saving technologies and precision-irrigation which in other words can be said as More Crop Per Drop
5. PMKSY also targets the promotion of micro-irrigation in the form of sprinklers, rain-guns, drips, etc. Micro irrigation not only saves water but also reduces the use of fertilizers to a significant level
6. One of its key objectives is to attract private investments in the irrigation sector and also to bring about an inclusive development of even the rainfed areas.

Implementation of PMKSY

Everything from planning and execution of plans is regionalized in PMKSY. The District Irrigation Plans (DIPs) will identify the areas that require improved facilities in irrigation. DIPs are basically operational at block levels and district levels. The State Irrigation Plan consolidates all the DIPs and it oversees the agricultural plans developed under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

All PMKSY projects are verified by the screening committed at state level and is sanctioned by the state sanctioning committee which functions under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. The nodal agency for PMKSY projects would be the state agriculture department, and a periodic review of all sanctioned projects will be done by the National Steering Committee (NSC).

Another highlight about the project implementation is that the funds will be allocated by the centre only if the state has prepared the district irrigation plans and the state irrigation plans. The state government’s share under PMKSY is 25% and rest is borne by the centre, with an exception for north-eastern states where contribution by the state government is 10%.