Introduction

     The annual yield of water in Kerala is around 7030 crore cubic meters. Although the state has the benefit of both South West and North East Monsoons, its distribution is wide temporal with spatial variations. Six districts to the north of Thrissur do not have the full benefit of both monsoons. Nearly 40% of the available water resources are lost as run off causing heavy flood. This water can be preserved for proper utilisation particularly for the summer months - January to April. The available supplies could be effectively utilised to benefit more number of beneficiaries through better management. With this concept in view, the Government of Kerala conceived a number of major composite irrigation projects. There are nine ongoing major and medium irrigation projects in the State; the year of their commencement varies from 1961 to 1998.

     A major chunk of State's outlay under Five Year Plans has been earmarked for irrigation and allied multi purpose projects. The gestation period of these projects is found considerably longer than initial design. The delay in completion, escalation of costs, and backlog of execution are the major factors that hinder the timely completion of the projects. These delays and resultant low returns from the project than actually anticipated has become serious concern for the planners in the wake of the Tenth Five Year Plan. The Government policy to prefer spillover projects to new ones further aggravates the situation many folds. It is in this juncture the State Planning Board has decided to undertake a quick study on the ongoing major and medium irrigation projects to assess justification for their continuance as spillover schemes and to suggest suitable measures for completion of these projects in a phased manner within a period of 2- 3 years.