Govt. of India had constituted  working group on minor irrigation programme for the Ninth Five Year plan. It suggested policies and strategies for the Ninth Plan for Minor Irrigation Sector. Major thrust areas identified are :

Speedy completion of large number of on-going projects
Encouraging, propagating sprinkler and drip irrigation system in water scarce and draught prone areas
Laying more emphasis for exploitation of ground water as compared to surface water minor irrigation schemes.

National Policy for Ground Water Development had suggested the following :

Ground Water Schemes

There should be a periodical reassessment  on a scientific basis of the ground water potential, taking into consideration the quantity of the water available and economic viability.

Exploitation of ground water resources should be so regulated as not to exceed the recharging possibilities, as also to ensure social equity.

Integrated and co -ordinated development of surface water and ground water and their conjunctive use should be envisaged right from the project planning stage and form an essential part of the project.

Surface Water  Schemes

Irrigation planning either in an individual project or in a basin as a whole should take into account the irrigability of land, cost effective irrigation options possible from all available sources of water.

There should be a close integration of water use and land use policies. It has also suggested that water allocation in an irrigation system should be done with due regard to equity and social justice.

Water rates should be adequate to cover the annual maintenance and operation charges and a part of the fixed cost.

Efforts should be made to involve farmers progressively in various aspects of management of irrigation system. Participatory irrigation management should be encouraged.

Ninth  Five Year Plan

Annual Plan 1999-2000

The following budgetary provision was made for Minor irrigation department for the year 1999-2000 :

Details of above budgetary provision into General Area / Jharkhand Area and Sub Plan are given below :

Amount in Rs.Lakh

Physical Achievements During Plan 1999-2000

Private Tubewell Scheme

Department ,under the scheme gives subsidies to the individuals for construction of Private Tubewells, Bamboo Boring, and Irrigation wells. Due to its utility, the scheme is very popular among the farmers of the State. Under the Scheme   maximum subsidy allowed for sinking of Shallow Boring and construction of Irrigation Well is Rs.13,750 and Rs.19,600 respectively. This Scheme is generally executed through Blocks , however in some Districts, MI Divisions are also executing this Scheme through District Development Authority.

General Zone

Jharkhand Zone

In the District falling under the Jharkhand Zone 50 Irrigation Wells have been constructed.

State Tubewells Under NABARD

A total of 758 incomplete tubewell schemes were taken up and upto March 2000 Rs.498.30 lakhs were allotted to different MI Divisions against which Rs. 179.08 lakhs has been spent.

New RIDF Tubewell Scheme

NABARD sanctioned this Project at a cost of Rs.5906.32 lakhs under which 371 new State Tubewells are to be constructed in 162 blocks of 28 Districts. The Project is to be completed by 2000-2001. On completion of the project 29680 hectares of land could be provided with irrigation facilities. A provision of Rs.3000 lakhs was made for this programme in the year 1999-2000 against which Rs.1964.870 were spent. 249 Tubewells have been drilled and civil works on those wells are in progress. The total expenditure on this project upto March 2000 is Rs.2910.72 lakhs.

Surface Water Schemes under State Plan

Ground Water Survey and Investigation

A sum of Rs. 10.875 were allotted to different GW Divisions against which Rs. 7.815 have been spent during 1999-2000. Three exploratory Tubewells have been dug. In addition to this at ten different places, under Danapur, Koilwar, Naubatpur, Bihta, and Phulwarisharif Blocks, Aquifer Performance Tests and Recuperation Tests were conducted.

Surface Water Survey and Investigation

For survey and investigation of new surface water schemes, a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs were allotted against which Rs. 4.35 lakhs were spent on survey of 19 schemes which would be completed under NABARD and State Plan.

New MI Division Schemes for Central and North Bihar Under State Plan

Annual Plan 2000-2001

A total outlay of Rs. 8674 lakh has been earmarked for the Minor irrigation department during the financial year 2000-2001. The details are the following:

Summary Plan 2000-2001

OTHER DETAILS AND DATA ON VARIOUS PLAN SCHEMES

• Physical and Financial Programme During Last Three Years of IX Plan

• Annual Plan 2000-2001 : Details of budgetary Provision for General Area, Jharkhand Area and Sub-Plan

• Bihar Plateau Development Project : Scheme wise Physical Progress During 1999-2000
  RANCHI  KHUNTI  LOHARDAGA   GUMLA  WEST SINGHBHUM (CHAIBASA )  WEST SINGHBHUM (CHAKRADHARPUR )  GARHWA  PALAMU   DUMKA  
  GODDA  SAHEBGANJ

• District and Block wise Irrigation Potential Created : Lift Irrigation

• District and Block wise Irrigation Potential Created : Medium Irrigation

• District and Block wise Irrigation Potential Created : Tubewell

• District wise Irrigation Potential from Ground Water

• Average Depth of Shallow Tubewell in Different Districts on the Basis of Aquifer Condition

• Additional Number of Ground Water Structure Feasible

• Physical and Financial Status of Tubewells Under NABARD (RIDF-1) as of March, 2000

• Status of Surface Water and Lift Irrigation Schemes Under NABARD (RIDF-III)

• Status of Surface Water and Lift Irrigation Schemes Under State Plan

• Progress Report of 371 State Tubewells (NABARD-III) as of March, 2000