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Journalism of Courage
The total irrigated area under the jurisdiction of the controversial water resources department has decreased in the state. The Economic Survey has blamed this downfall on the severe drought that required water to be diverted for drinking purpose. The survey is once again silent on the percentage of increase or decrease in the state’s irrigation potential.
The irrigated area under the jurisdiction of the water resources department decreased from 32.52 lakh hectares in 2011-12 to 24.48 lakh hectares in 2012-13. In the preceding year, the number had increased from 29.55 lakh hectare in 2010-11 to 32.52 lakh hectares.
“Due to insufficient rainfall in 2012-13, the state faced a severe drought situation. Live storage of water being very less, was required to be reserved for drinking purpose for which there was a decrease in the total irrigation potential utilised during 2012-13…,” says the survey.
It adds that the total irrigation potential created was 49.26 lakh hectares, compared to 48.25 lakh hectares in 2012-13.
Like last year, the survey refrained from publishing figures of the total area brought under irrigation. The 2012 survey had claimed that the area under irrigation had increased by only 0.1 per cent in the last decade. The Irrigation White Paper, however, claims the area had actually increased by 5.7 per cent. These initial revelations had led to allegations of large scale corruption in the irrigation sector. Subsequently a committee under Madhav Chitale was appointed to look into the charges.
The state has this time decided to refrain from publishing the figures. “The data will be available once the report and recommendations of the committee are accepted,” says the survey.
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