The Government has denied claims that it is planning to impose a tax on water usage for agricultural purposes. The Jal Shakti Ministry clarified that rumors pertaining to taxation under the new scheme – “Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management” (M-CADWM) are baseless and false.

According to the Ministry, there is no provision under this pilot project, nor any directive from the Government, to necessarily impose user charges on farmers for water usage. Furthermore, both agriculture and water are State subjects and any decision regarding the collection of user charges, falls under the jurisdiction of State Governments.

The Ministry said that certain sections of the media have reported, inaccurately and misleadingly, that farmers will now be required to pay charges for the use of water under this scheme being piloted by the Centre. It has urged all stakeholders, including media outlets, to verify facts before publishing such reports, which may create unnecessary panic or confusion among the farming community.a