PMKSY Making Strides: Irrigation Scheme Saves Land, Boosts Water Efficiency Across India

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

New Delhi, July 24, 2025:The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), launched in 2015-16 to ensure improved irrigation and water efficiency for farmers, continues to make significant progress in transforming India’s agricultural landscape. As per a report from the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, the scheme has successfully expanded cultivable areas under assured irrigation and introduced modern water conservation technologies.

PMKSY is an umbrella scheme encompassing key components such as the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP). HKKP includes sub-components like Command Area Development & Water Management (CAD&WM), Surface Minor Irrigation, Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies, and Ground Water Development.

The Government of India had extended the implementation of PMKSY for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, with CAD&WM continuing in tandem with AIBP. Groundwater development work under PMKSY-HKKP has been extended to ensure completion of ongoing projects.

In a major infrastructural achievement, the construction of over 55,290 km of distribution networks using underground pipelines has helped avoid land acquisition of nearly 76,594 hectares — a common hurdle in irrigation development. Additionally, the introduction of SCADA-based water distribution systems and micro-irrigation practices in select projects has significantly improved water use efficiency.

Two other components previously part of PMKSY include the Watershed Development Component (implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development) and Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), which is now integrated into the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

The Ministry highlighted that real-time project monitoring via a dedicated dashboard and Management Information System (MIS) is playing a crucial role in tracking both physical and financial progress, identifying bottlenecks, and ensuring timely intervention. Issues like land acquisition and statutory clearances are being regularly reviewed through the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) portal.

The information was shared by Minister of State for Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, during a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.