FM Nirmala Sitharaman:Will set up a high-level panel to monitor long term irrigation funds

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha on Monday said government will look at setting up a high-level committee to monitor use of long term irrigation funds. long term irrigation fund was instituted under NABARD in 2016-17 under 'Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchyee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme' that enviss bringing 76 lakh hectares under irrigation through 99 identified projects.

NABARD funds

" funds which have been allotted and projects which have benefited from it under long term irrigation fund will be better served if re is a high-level committee to monitor it," Sitharaman told Lok Sabha.

ting that she would come back to House after forming a committee which can look into se projects, Sitharaman said review can be done along with states.

" suggestion that a high-level committee should consider reviewing it is a very well-taken point... I will certainly look into forming a high-level committee for reviewing it," she said during Question Hour.

In a written reply, she said that as on March 31, 2019, cumulative loans sanctioned and disbursed, including towards both central and state share, were Rs 75,769.9 crore and Rs 34,248.73 crore, respectively, under long term irrigation fund.

According to her, same could be case for many or projects under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

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