Tue Jun 17 16:06:12 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Hindu reports that the 7th Minor Irrigation Census is set to begin in Dharmapuri, India, under the Rationalisation of Minor Irrigation Scheme (RMIS). A training workshop was held for officials involved in data collection. The census aims to create a comprehensive database on irrigation sources irrigating less than 2,000 hectares, including wells and borewells on farms, their funding, land irrigated, and motor horsepower. The census seeks to estimate groundwater availability and aid in water resource management. The Minor Irrigation Statistics scheme is centrally sponsored by the Ministry of Jal Shakthi, using 2023-24 as the base year. District-level committees will oversee the census.

**News Article:**

**Minor Irrigation Census to Begin in Dharmapuri, India**

**DHARMAPURI, June 17, 2025** – The 7th Minor Irrigation Census is scheduled to commence in Dharmapuri, India, this June. The initiative, falling under the Rationalisation of Minor Irrigation Scheme (RMIS), aims to establish a comprehensive database of minor irrigation systems.

Collector R. Sadheesh recently chaired a training workshop for village administrative officers (VAOs) from village panchayats and local body administration officials of town panchayats and municipalities, preparing them for the census process.

The census will focus on irrigation sources irrigating less than 2,000 hectares of land. Data collection will include details on individually and jointly owned farm wells and borewells, sources of funding, subsidy grants availed, the extent of irrigated land, and the horsepower of water pumping motors.

“The objective is to create a sound and reliable data base on minor irrigation systems including water bodies that will help in the estimation of available ground water and in the formulation of realistic water resource development and management,” stated a local administration official.

The Minor Irrigation Statistics scheme is a centrally sponsored initiative under the Ministry of Jal Shakthi. The 7th Census will use the year 2023-24 as the base year for its data. District-level committees will oversee the census operations, headed by the District Collector, with the District Revenue Officer serving as the nodal officer.

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