New Delhi, Nov 15 : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved a scheme on "Artificial Recharge of Ground Water through Dugwells" in hard rock areas in the wake of over exploitation of country's ground water resources leading to its depletion.

The total cost of the project will be around Rupees 1871 crore, out of which subsidy amount will be Rs. 1499.27 crore.

"The Scheme envisages ground water recharge programme in 1180 over exploited, critical and semi critical assessment units through 4.455 million existing irrigation dugwells owned by the farmers in association with Central Ground Water Board and NABARD, " a release issued by the Government stated.

Provision of 100 per cent subsidy to marginal and small farmers', and 50 per cent subsidy for other farmers has been made in the scheme.

The Scheme will be implemented in three years during XI Plan from 2007 to 2010.

The Scheme will provide help by augmenting the ground water resources and improvement in the ground water quality.

The scheme would also help in the increase of availability of water for irrigation leading to creation of additional irrigation potential and arrest of declining ground water level.

It would facilitate strengthening of institutional framework for water resource and irrigation management at the State level.

The CCEA also gave its approval for an additional Rs. 50 per quintal ( over and above the bonus of Rs. 50 per quintal already announced) for paddy for the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2007-08.

The benefit of grant of incentive bonus on paddy in addition to MSP for KMS 2007-08 will encourage farmers to grow more paddy, and also contribute more for the procurement for central pool. (ANI)