Repair,Renovation and Restoration of water bodies (RRR)

The Government of India sanctioned a Pilot Scheme for National Project for Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies directly linked to Agriculture's in January, 2005 with an estimated cost of Rs.300 crore to be shared by Centre and State in the ratio of 3:1 proposed to be implemented during the X Plan period. The objectives of the Scheme were to restore and augment storage capacities of water bodies, and also to recover and extend their lost irrigation potential. The Scheme has been approved for 26 district projects in 15 States, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Himachal

Pradesh, J&K, Gujarat, Kerala and Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs.299.92 crore and Central Share of Rs.197.30 crore has been released to the states so far. These projects cover 1098 water bodies with total original culturable command area of 1.72 lakh hectares. After RRR works, an additional irrigation potential of 0.78 lakh hectares is likely to be generated. The physical work for restoration has been completed in 1054 water bodies in 15 states so far. The spillover activities are being continued during the current financial year i.e. 2009-10 in the state of Maharashtra. The irrigation potential created subsequent to pilot scheme is 1.73 lakh ha. approximately. Under the scheme, about 23,000 water bodies having a Culturable Command Area (CCA) of 16.8 lakh ha. at a cost of Rs. 6,000 crore including central share of Rs.1500 crore are to be covered. The main objectives of the scheme are:-

• Comprehensive improvement of selected tank systems includingrestoration.
• Improvement of catchment areas of tank.
• Community participation and self-supporting system forsustainable management for each water body.
• Ground Water Recharge.
• Capacity Building of communities, user groups, standing committees for Panchayats and State Government/Central Government Agencies concerned with the planning,implementation & monitoring of the projects.
• Increase in storage capacity of water bodies.
• Improvement in agriculture/horticulture productivity and increasein recharge of ground water in downstream areas of water bodies.
• Environmental benefits through improved water use efficiency;irrigation benefits through restoration of water bodies.
• Supplementation of the groundwater resource and promotion ofconjunctive use of surface and ground water.
• Development of tourism, cultural activities, etc.
• Increased availability of drinking water.