The second Bihar State Irrigation Commission has estimates 15.545 lakh hectares as ultimate irrigation potential from surface water schemes and 41.14 lakh hectares from ground water schemes. However, Central Water Board & State Ground Water Irrigation Organisation have estimated in 1991 the following ground water potential in the State:

Total replenishable ground water resources	3.35213 million ha. m/yr.
Provision for industrial and other users	0.50282 million ha. m/yr.
Available ground water resources for irrigation in net terms	2.84931 million ha. m/yr.
Utilisable ground water resources for irrigation in net terms	2.56439 million ha. m/yr.
Gross Draft estimated	0.78108 million ha. m/yr.
Net Draft	0.54676 million ha. m/yr.
Balance ground water resources for future use in net terms	2.30255 million ha. m/yr.
Level of ground water development	19.19 %
Weighted Average delta	0.40-0.65 m.
Utilisable ground water irrigation potential for development	4.94763 million ha.

The above figures show the 2.30255 million ha. meter / year balance ground water resources in net terms is available for future use in the State. The utilisable irrigation from ground water in the State is 49.47 lakh ha.

Creation Of Potential During Different plan Periods

The total potential creation through Minor Irrigation Schemes, by the end of Eighth Five Year Plan was 55.99lakf ha. Taking in to consideration depreciation of 5 percent in each plan period, due to inefficient maintenance of schemes and expiry of the life of a particular scheme, the effective potential at the end of Eighth plan period is likely to be 26.45 lakh ha. from ground water and 6.61 lakh ha. from surface water schemes.

The details of Plan wise potential created, effective potential after depreciation are given below :

The above table would suggest that there is much scope for the minor irrigation schemes in the State. Hence, out of 65.02 lakh ha. of ultimate potential of minor irrigation schemes, upto Eighth Plan , 26.45 lakh ha. have been created and remaining 38.52 lakh ha. potential are still remaining to be utilised, which includes 29.66 lakh ha. from ground water and 8.93 lakh ha. from surface water schemes.

Other Statistics

Land Use Pattern of Bihar

Statewise Number of Operational Holding by Major Size groups

Socio- Economic Indicators of Agro-Climatic Zones

Regionwise Probable Net Culturable Area in The State

Current Status of Agricultural in Agro - Climatic Sub- Zone

Prospective Cropping Pattern

Water Map Of India