around Rs 3,500 crore will be grantedto the states by the central government for enhancing irrigation potentialunder the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund during the next fiveyears.

About 50 per cent of the allotted sum will be utilised for minor irrigation schemes and the rest for major and medium projects. The purpose would be to create an additional irrigation potential of 12 million hectares (ha) of land, out of which 10 million ha would be through groundwater schemes and the remaining 2 million ha through surface water schemes.

During an informal review ofthe progress made in the ongoingprojects being implemented by the Centre, Union minister of water resources C P Thakur said that under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme Rs 800 crore would be granted to the states for accelerating the completion of large irrigation and multi-purpose projects.