Himachal Pradesh’s Jal Shakti Department has earned national recognition for completing the first-ever Major and Medium Irrigation (MMI) Census under the Irrigation Census 2023–25. The honour was conferred by the Government of India in New Delhi, where Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil presented the award to Secretary Jal Shakti, Dr. Abhishek Jain.
The award was later formally handed over to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in Shimla by Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Abhishek Jain.
Praising the department’s efforts, the Chief Minister termed the achievement noteworthy and emphasized the vital role of irrigation in boosting farm productivity and farmers’ income. He reiterated that strengthening the rural economy remains a key focus of the state government, as reflected in the Budget 2026–27. He also noted that the accomplishment underlines the department’s commitment to efficient planning and improved governance through data-driven initiatives.
The MMI Census is aimed at developing a detailed national database of irrigation infrastructure. Under its framework, projects with a Culturable Command Area (CCA) exceeding 10,000 hectares are categorized as major, while those between 2,000 and 10,000 hectares are classified as medium.
In Himachal Pradesh, the census covered 10 projects, including one major and nine medium schemes. Of these, eight projects have already been completed, while two medium projects are still under progress. Notably, the state finished the census work by October 2025, ahead of the scheduled deadline.
The exercise involved collecting data across 32 key parameters such as irrigation potential, cropping patterns, water usage, population benefited, and technical specifications. The findings show that about 64 percent of irrigation potential is being utilized in the major project, whereas medium projects have a higher utilization rate of around 84 percent. Overall, medium projects account for a larger share in irrigation usage.
At present, all projects in the state rely on flood irrigation methods and support agricultural activities during both Kharif and Rabi seasons.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
