This document outlines the irrigation potential created and utilized in India under successive five-year plans from 1951 to 2002. It shows that over this period: - The total potential created increased from 22.6 million hectares to 93.95 million hectares, with most potential coming from major and medium surface water projects. - The total potential utilized grew from 22.6 million hectares to 80.06 million hectares, lagging behind potential created but steadily increasing each plan period. - Surface water contributed the most potential both created and utilized, followed by ground water, with minor irrigation schemes also expanding potential over time.

1. PLAN-WISE POSITION OF IRRIGATION POTENTIAL CREATED AND
UTILISED
(In million hectares)
Potential created Potential utilised
Minor TOTAL Minor TOTAL
Plan
Major &
Medium
S.W. G.W. Total
Major &
Medium
S.W. G.W. Total
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12)
Upto
1951
(Pre-
Plan)
Cumulative 9.70 6.40 6.50 12.90 22.60 9.70 6.40 6.50 12.90 22.60
During 2.50 0.03 1.13 1.16 3.66 1.28 0.03 1.13 1.16 2.44I Plan
(1951-
56) Cumulative 12.20 6.43 7.63 14.06 26.26 10.98 6.43 7.63 14.06 25.04
During 2.13 0.02 0.67 0.69 2.82 2.07 0.02 0.67 0.69 2.76II Plan
(1956-
61) Cumulative 14.33 6.45 8.30 14.75 29.08 13.05 6.45 8.30 14.75 27.80
During 2.24 0.03 2.22 2.25 4.49 2.12 0.03 2.22 2.25 4.37III Plan
(1961-
66) Cumulative 16.57 6.48 10.52 17.00 33.57 15.17 6.48 10.52 17.00 32.17
During 1.53 0.02 1.98 2.00 3.53 1.58 0.02 1.98 2.00 3.58Annual
Plans
(1966-
69)
Cumulative 18.10 6.50 12.50 19.00 37.10 16.75 6.50 12.50 19.00 35.75
During 2.60 0.50 4.00 4.50 7.10 1.64 0.50 4.00 4.50 6.14IV Plan
(1969-
74) Cumulative 20.70 7.00 16.50 23.50 44.20 18.39 7.00 16.50 23.50 41.89
During 4.02 0.50 3.30 3.80 7.82 2.77 0.50 3.30 3.80 6.57V Plan
1974-78)
Cumulative 24.72 7.50 19.80 27.30 52.02 21.16 7.50 19.80 27.30 48.46
During 1.89 0.50 2.20 2.70 4.59 1.48 0.50 2.20 2.70 4.18Annual
Plans
(1978-
80)
Cumulative 26.61 8.00 22.00 30.00 56.61 22.64 8.00 22.00 30.00 52.64
During 1.09 1.70 5.82 7.52 8.61 0.93 1.01 4.24 5.25 6.18VI Plan
(1980-
85) Cumulative 27.70 9.70 27.82 37.52 65.22 23.57 9.01 26.24 35.25 58.82
During 2.22 1.29 7.80 9.09 11.31 1.90 0.96 6.91 7.87 9.77VII Plan
(1985-
90) Cumulative 29.92 10.99 35.62 46.61 76.53 25.47 9.97 33.15 43.12 68.59
During 0.82 0.47 3.27 3.74 4.56 0.85 0.32 3.10 3.42 4.27Annual
Plans
(1990-
92)
Cumulative 30.74 11.46 38.89 50.35 81.09 26.31 10.29 36.25 46.54 72.85
During 2.21 1.05 1.91 2.96 5.17 2.13 0.78 1.45 2.23 4.36VIII Plan
(1992-
97) Cumulative 32.95 12.51 40.80 53.31 86.26 28.44 11.07 36.76 47.83 76.27
IX Plan During 4.10 3.59 3.59 7.69 2.57 1.22 1.22 3.79

2. (1997-
2002)
Cumulative 37.05 16.10 56.90 93.95 31.01 18.04 49.05 80.06
SW: Surface Water; GW: Ground Water