Operational Guidelines of Pradhanmantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY)

The Government has approved the Draft Operational Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY). 

• PMKSY has been conceived as an amalgamation of ongoing schemes viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) and the On Farm Water Management (OFWM).
  
  
• PMKSY is approved for implementation across the country with an outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore in five years, with an outlay of Rs.5300 crore for 2015-16.
  
  
• The major objective of PMKSY is to achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level, expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water.
  
  
• Enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies (More crop per drop), enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices by exploring the feasibility of reusing treated municipal waste water for peri-urban agriculture and to attract greater private investment in precision irrigation system.
  
  
• It will promote efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices like drips, sprinklers, pivots, rain-guns in the farm (Jal Sinchan).
  
  
• Construction of micro-irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities including tube wells and dugs wells.
  
  
• Secondary storage structures at tail end of canal system to store water when available in abundance (rainy season) or from perennial sources like streams for use during dry periods through effective on-farm water management.
  
  
• Water lifting devices like diesel/electric/solar pump sets including water carriage pipes, extension activities for promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures.
  
  
• It will also improve cropping alignment, to maximise use of available water including rainfall and minimise irrigation requirement (Jal sanrakshan).
  
  
• Capacity building, training for encouraging potential use water source through technological, agronomic and management practices including community irrigation.