Water security remains central to India’s food security rural livelihoods public health and economic productivity. Against the backdrop of rapid urbanisation climate variability and rising sectoral demand the Department of Water Resources River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti is strengthening irrigation capacity and river development through large scale nationally significant projects supported by PRAGATI enabled governance.
To address the scale complexity and inter governmental coordination required for major irrigation and water management works several key initiatives have been brought under the Pro Active Governance and Timely Implementation platform. PRAGATI enables direct monitoring at the level of the Prime Minister ensuring time bound decision making accountability alignment and resolution of long pending field bottlenecks related to land acquisition rehabilitation and resettlement environmental clearances inter state coordination funding flows contract management and on ground execution.
PRAGATI oversight has played a decisive role in unlocking implementation constraints that had stalled progress for years. Through unified directions structured follow up and continuous monitoring the mechanism has transformed chronic delays into actionable solutions enabling steady movement of critical public investments towards commissioning and service delivery.
Across the Ministry of Jal Shakti portfolio 93 major projects are currently tracked on the PMG system with a cumulative investment of approximately ₹2.86 lakh crore. Of these 44 projects valued at ₹44,122.94 crore have already been commissioned including one project reviewed under PRAGATI. A further 49 projects worth ₹2.42 lakh crore are under implementation nine of which have been reviewed at the Prime Minister level. In total 10 projects valued at ₹43,583 crore have been reviewed under PRAGATI reflecting their national importance for irrigation river development and flood management.
Project status overview
Project Status
Commissioned
Total Projects 44
Project Value ₹44,122.94 crore
PRAGATI Projects 1
PRAGATI Value ₹2,685.41 crore
Sector Agriculture Waste and Water
Under Implementation
Total Projects 49
Project Value ₹2,42,220.30 crore
PRAGATI Projects 9
PRAGATI Value ₹40,897.92 crore
Sector Agriculture Waste and Water
Total
Projects 93
PRAGATI Projects 10
At the issue resolution level 126 implementation issues were identified across these projects of which 106 have already been resolved. Among PRAGATI reviewed projects 14 major issues have been closed through coordinated inter ministerial and state level follow up demonstrating the effectiveness of structured governance in protecting high value public investments.
The nine PRAGATI reviewed projects span critical irrigation and water management infrastructure including the North Koel Reservoir Project Gosikhurd Project and CADWM works Subernarekha Multipurpose Project Integrated Anandpur Barrage Project Sulwade Jamphal Kanoli Lift Irrigation Scheme Lower Pedhi Project Bembla Irrigation Project and Aruna Medium Irrigation Project. These projects expand irrigation potential stabilise command areas enhance drought resilience and support farmer incomes across multiple states. Collectively they have achieved an average physical progress of 73 per cent with one project already commissioned.
Case study Bembla Irrigation Project Maharashtra
The Bembla Irrigation Project implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana was sanctioned on 2 April 2007 to strengthen irrigation infrastructure in the Vidarbha region. Located in Yavatmal district and centred on the Bembla River the project envisages irrigation coverage across Babhulgaon Kalamb Ralegaon and Maregaon tehsils and was designed as a major productivity enhancing intervention.
During implementation the project faced three persistent challenges
Land acquisition of 47.21 hectares remained pending
Approximately 32 per cent of canal lining works were incomplete due to limited working windows sand shortages and COVID related disruptions
Irrigation potential for 1,200 hectares under the Dehani Lift Irrigation Scheme was delayed due to contractual and financial issues
The project was reviewed under PRAGATI on 25 October 2023 following which specific directions were issued to resolve land acquisition complete canal lining works and address contractor related impediments through coordinated action between central ministries and the Government of Maharashtra.
Subsequent monitoring led to completion of 87.70 km of canal lining out of 112.40 km supported by new batching plants and regular multi level reviews. The non performing contractor for the Dehani Lift scheme was terminated joint measurements were completed and estimates for remaining civil electrical mechanical and automation works were finalised enabling removal of long standing bottlenecks.
As a result of focused PRAGATI oversight the project entered an accelerated completion phase and was commissioned on 30 June 2025. The Bembla Irrigation Project is now expected to significantly enhance irrigation coverage improve agricultural resilience and support sustainable rural development in drought prone areas of Yavatmal district.
Taken together the Ministry of Jal Shakti portfolio under PRAGATI demonstrates a whole of government commitment to water security resilient agriculture and effective public service delivery. By combining infrastructure development with institutional coordination technology enabled monitoring and accountability driven governance PRAGATI continues to function as a powerful accelerator translating public investment into measurable outcomes for farmers communities and regional economies.
