During the post-independence period the Government of India accorded top priority to agriculture to increase the production and productivity for providing food security to the people. A number of irrigation projects were constructed and irrigation potential was increased substantially. Later it was observed that the potential created was not fully utilized and substantial gap existed between the potential creation and potential utilization due to which the purpose of irrigation project was not met fully. This prompted the formation of Irrigation Commission in 1972 to make specific recommendations for systematic and integrated development of the commands of the irrigation projects. Later during 1974-75 command area development programs, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme was launched to bridge the gap between potential creation and potential utilization. The main mantra is to reduce loss of irrigation water by increasing the efficiency of the irrigation system and also to maximize the efficiency of use of water at the field level. Thus, more area could be covered by the same project. The programme emphasizes on the integrated and coordinated approach to the development and management of the command areas by constituting a multi-disciplinary team under the overall control of Command Area Development Authorities. In Sikkim the projects are being implemented by the Irrigation & Flood Control Department and not by the Command Area Development (CAD) Authority, as CAD Authority as in some other states like Himachal Pradesh, Kerala has not been formed in Sikkim. Under Command Area Development Programme various components as under are implemented:

I. On-Farm Development works consisting of development of field channels
II. Selection and introduction of suitable cropping pattern
III. Modernization, maintenance and efficient operation of irrigation system etc.


As stated above the Command Area Development Schemes are Centrally Sponsored Schemes with the funding pattern of 50:50. In Sikkim under Command Area Development Programme only few projects have been implemented in the past. Under this programme the Department has taken up construction of offshoots and field channels to increase the coverage of the existing channel by minimizing the losses due to conveyance of water and increasing the efficiency of the system so that more area is covered by the existing discharge. Under this scheme the Department has set a physical target of 400 ha for the 11th Plan and to achieve this target the total financial involvement would be Rs. 200 lakhs based on SOR 2002. The provision of guidelines for CAD has hindered the implementation of projects. As for the guideline one scheme should cover a minimum C.C.A of 100 ha which in the context of Sikkim is not possible. In Sikkim due to geographical constraints, the Ministry of Water Resources has agreed to reduce the C.C.A to 20 ha for schemes for consideration under AIBP. In Sikkim most of the minor irrigation schemes implemented by the Government have C.C.A of 20-25 ha only. The Department has already apprised the Ministry for consideration and revision of the guidelines and to reduce the CCA of CAD schemes to that of the AIBP schemes. If the guidelines are revised giving relaxation to hilly States like Sikkim, proposals can be initiated for a number of existing irrigation schemes for up gradation of potential utilization by modifying various components as required. However, Department has proposed a scheme in South Sikkim and this may be sanctioned by the Ministry during the current financial year. Under this scheme the Department has set a physical target of 400 ha for the 12th Plan and to achieve this target the total financial involvement would be Rs. 500 lakhs based on SOR 2012. A provision of Rs. 100.00 lakhs has been proposed during 2013-14.