The Ministry of Jal Shakti has strongly refuted recent media reports claiming that farmers would be charged for water usage under a new government scheme.
In a statement issued late Friday, the ministry clarified that there is no provision under the pilot project for the Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) scheme to impose water user charges on farmers.
The pilot project, part of the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY), is designed to improve irrigation efficiency, ensure equitable water distribution, and integrate modern technologies such as IoT, SCADA, and pressurized pipeline networks.
“There is absolutely no directive from the Government of India to necessarily impose user charges,” the statement said, reiterating that both agriculture and water are State subjects under the Constitution. Any decision to levy charges, if at all, would rest solely with the respective State Governments.
The Ministry also noted that Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil had clarified this point during a recent press conference, but certain sections of the media have misrepresented the facts, potentially causing undue concern among the farming community.
The Ministry urged media outlets to verify facts before publication and stressed that this clarification is being issued in the interest of transparency and public trust.
