Onus is on State governments for planning, managing water resources projects, says CWC reply to DPR query on PAP Canal

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has conveyed its position to farmers that while it issues guidelines for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for modernisation of irrigation structures, the task of planning, development and management of water resources projects remains the domain of State governments.

The State governments concerned implement the projects based on their own resources and priority, the CWC has said in its reply to a representation made by president of Vellakovil Branch Canal - Veeranampalayam Village Water Users Association P. Velusamy, to know the status of the DPR for revamping the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) canal.

In his letter to the Superintending Engineer (Coordination), Cauvery and Southern Rivers Organisation, CWC, Coimbatore, Mr. Velusamy had sought to know if the DPR had been submitted for its (CWC’s) approval and funding.

Water user associations in the 124-km PAP main canal’s tail-end areas that have been highlighting the higher end-user advantages in laying pipelines along the canal alignment, instead of modernising or rehabilitating the structure, were keen to know if the DPR will comply with the emphasis of CWC on micro-irrigation.

On January 27, 2023, Bengaluru-based SEACON Private Limited was tasked with the preparation of DPR for Rehabilitation of Canal System and to provide automated community micro-irrigation in Parambikulam-Aliyar sub-basin in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts.

Detailing that the PAP irrigation project benefits 4.25 lakh acres in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, Mr. Velusamy appealed to the CWC to formulate methods for deploying advanced technologies and best practices in water resource management.

The CWC had maintained in its reply that the Central Government, however, provides technical and financial support on a case-by-case basis for funding of certain projects under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.

Published - January 11, 2025 07:42 pm IST