(a) whether out of a target to construct 12.4 lakh farm ponds in the financial year 2017, only 4.5 lakhs have been constructed so far;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to construct another 5 lakh farm ponds as announced in the present budget and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the measures being taken to ensure the asset quality and utility of the ponds constructed?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)
(a): In current financial year 2016-17, a national target of constructing 5 lakh farm ponds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was kept. Against this, States/UTs in their annual Labour Budget and shelf of works for the year 2016-17 has kept the target of construction of 8,82,325 farm ponds.
(b): State/UT-wise details of the construction of farm ponds in the financial year 2016-17 (as on 14.03.2016) is given at Annexure.
(c): Ministry has kept target of 5 lakh farm ponds for financial year 2017-18 and it has been considered by the States/UTs while preparing their Labour Budget for the financial year 2017-18.
(d): The following measures has been taken to ensure the asset quality and utility of the ponds constructed:
• Ministry has imparted training to State Technical Resource Teams (STRTs) on works permitted under MGNREGA including the construction of Farm ponds.
• The Ministry has issued suggestive estimate and drawing on construction of farm ponds.
• Geo-MGNREGA has been introduced to geotag the assets created under MGNREGA.
*****