■ In Bihar, the total water area stands at 3.52 lakh hectares, accounting for 3.8% of the total geographical area. Bihar is endowed with substantial ground and surface water resources. The river Ganga and its tributaries provide water resources to the state, for both agricultural and non-agricultural uses.
On average, the state receives annual rainfall amounting to 1000 MMS, the bulk of which comes from the southwest monsoon. This is not adequate to water the entire farming activities in the state. Therefore, a well-planned irrigation system is needed to assist in stabilizing production, improving yield and cropping intensities.
■ Gross Irrigated Area (GIA):
Gross Irrigated Area (GIA) is the total area under crops, irrigated either once or more than once in a year. For areas irrigated more than once, they are counted as many times as they are irrigated.
The GIA was the highest in Rohtas (3.72 lakh hectares), while the lowest was in Sheohar (0.26 lakh hectares).
■ Source-wise Gross Irrigated area in Bihar (2019-20)
• Tubewells
Tubewells are the largest source of irrigation in Bihar, contributing to about 63.9% of the total gross irrigated area in the state. Tubewells alongwith other wells constitute an area of 34.73 lakh hectares in the state.
The district of Samastipur (2.28 lakh hectares) was well-equipped with tubewell irrigation during 2019-20, followed by Sitamarhi (1.90 lakh hectares) and Katihar (1.83 lakh hectares).
• Canals
Canal irrigation, constituted 30.6% of GIA at 16.6 lakh ha. The area under canal irrigation has significantly increased during the last ten years.
Rohtas district had the highest share in area under canal irrigation at 2.80 lakh hectares, followed by West Champaran (1.85 lakh hectares) and Aurangabad (1.44 lakh hectares), together accounting for nearly 36.6 percent of the total canal irrigation in the state.
• Tanks
Tank irrigation, constituted 2.1% of GIA at 1.1 lakh ha.
Darbhanga district had the highest share in the area under tank irrigation at 0.8 lakh ha.
Therefore, tubewells and canals provide bulk of the irrigated water for agricultural activities in the state.
■ Irrigation potential
The irrigation schemes in Bihar can be broadly divided into major, medium, and minor irrigation schemes.
• The ultimate irrigation potential in Bihar stood at 117.54 lakh hectares.
• In 2020-21, the irrigation potential created by major and medium irrigation projects stood at 37.15 lakh hectares, which is 69.4 percent of the ultimate potential.
• The utilized irrigation potential stood at only 28.02 lakh hectares, which is 75.4 percent of the created potential.
• For minor irrigation, created potential was 44.76 lakh hectares, which is 69.9 percent of ultimate potential (64.01 lakh hectares).
• In 2020-21, the total irrigation potential created under the Major and Medium Irrigation schemes was 25.99 lakh hectares.
Launched date: 26 October 2019
Nodal Department : It's an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860, under Rural Development Department, Govt. of Bihar.
Objective: JJHM is a multi-stakeholder programme with the objective of climate sustenance, conservation and rejuvenation of water bodies and to keep water pollution-free, maintaining level of Groundwater, ensuring adequate water availability, climate resilient agriculture, energy conservation etc. and promoting climate awareness among the masses.
Slogan: “जल-जीवन-हरियाली, तभी होगी खुशहाली”
Features: JJHM will assist in water conservation, storage and irrigation. All Public ahar-pynes and tanks will be renovated and check dams/weirs will be constructed on small rivers, nalas, etc. for collecting rainwater during the monsoon.
The schemes of JJHM are executed under the budget head of the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojana (PMKSY).
The following works are being done by the Department under the 'Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali' campaign:
• To point out encroachments and restoration of public water harvesting structures in ahar pynes of one acre or more and in ponds/water bodies in 5 acres of more.
• Construction of check dams and water harvesting structures in small rivers and streams and in the catchment areas of hilly region.
• Places are being marked for construction of water bodies in the plateau areas of the state excluding forest area and in the foothills to make Garland Trenches on all sides in the state.
• Under the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Abhiyan, 1663 schemes have been approved, of which 1355 schemes have been completed. A total irrigation potential of 1.21 lakh hectares of land has been created, along with water harvesting capacity of 669.93 lakh cubic meters from the completed schemes.
• As a result of this campaign, a marginal increase in the groundwater level has been observed in nearly all the blocks of the state. In the data released by the Central Groundwater Board in 2017, the depletion of groundwater level was seen in 102 blocks, whereas in 2020, the depletion of groundwater level was seen in only 63 blocks.
• Under the 'Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali' campaign, various schemes are being implemented for restoration of traditional water sources, construction of new water sources, and development of water harvesting and storage structures.
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