INTR0DUCTION Sikkim is highly and mountainous State having international border at its three sides, China, Bhutan in East and Nepal in West. Its total geographical area is 7096 sq.km. Sikkim with a vertical strip of rugged mountainous terrain of roughly 65 to 100 kms broad and 170 kms deep has the highest peak of the world, the Mount Kanchendzonga. The altitude varies from 300 meters in low areas to 8500 meters in highland. Its unparallel and unique bio-geographical feature ranges from steaming hot foothills to ice-cold alpine meadows. This provides a mosaic of habitat where flora and faunal diversity and richness is incredibly high. It has two important rivers i.e. Teesta and Rangit which flow from altitudes of 18,000 ft high to 1000 ft within a short stretch of approximately 100 kms. Other major rivers of Sikkim are Rongnichu, Rorochhu, Rolepchhu in East, Bakchachhu, Rateychuu, Rangrangchuu, Rangyangchhuy, Rimbichuu, Kalej Khola and Ramamchhu in West. Sikkim falls within high rainfall zone and specially in monsoon, the State receives a high precipitation and its annual rainfall exceeds 4000 mm. During the month of June to September, plenty of rainfall gives boost up to harness the agriculture products but in winter seasons, there is dearth of adequate water for irrigation purpose specially in southern belt of the State. Agriculture is the main occupation in the State and hence is important means of land use. Agricultural holdings are well spread over from an elevation of 300 to 3000 meters. Most of the cultivable lands are terraced and farmers have settled on these holdings with establish regular cropping system. Marginal holdings and small holdings clubbed together comprises about 50% of all operational holdings and occupy 41% of the total area. The State has a cultivable area of about 1, 09,000 heacters. IRRIGATION IN SIKKIMThe State Government has paid specific focus to irrigation only from 1976 with the objective of constructing irrigation schemes. Earlier, the Panchyats and Rural Works Department use to take up such minor irrigation channel. However in 1986, a separate Department of Irrigation with the specific mandate of looking after irrigation had been created. Due to topographical features, medium/major irrigations project is not feasible and therefore only minor irrigation channel are taken up.Sikkim is basically agriculture oriented State oriented State and irrigation remains to be major constrain as the flow of fund for such minor irrigation channel under plan sector is not adequate but the fund received under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) has supplemented to create assure irrigation by taking up sufficient numbers of schemes. Irrigation water, the most important agriculture input therefore, has not only stabilized crop fields in kharif but also extended in rabi and other seasons. Economic development is totally based on agriculture depending on irrigation, and the Department�s aim and objectives is to remove poverty by better agriculture and generation of employment in diverse areas through assured irrigation facilities. Irrigation Department plays a key role to generate employment at the time of execution of works and infrastructures are created to field maximum crops during the Kharif and rabi and even mixed cropping all through all seasons. Benefit in this direction is diverted down to the poorest of poor to have sustainable livelihood. The level of poverty is also decreased to a greater extent with the services rendered by the department to agriculture by way of potential creation. Every year, target is fixed to create additional potential though utilization is marginally less due to the features of the land pattern and soil composition. The Department has been taking up minor irrigation schemes through gravity such that incentive is created to harness agricultural inputs annually. With a view to improve the State�s economy and living standard of the people, optimum development of agriculture through effective utilization of its land abundant water resources is imperative. Appropriate level of planning process is evolved for optimizing agriculture is imperative. Appropriate level of planning process is evolved for optimizing agriculture production through irrigation in Sikkim. Agriculture itself contributes the major share in the total income. About 42% of the total income is generated out of the agriculture and horticulture. In the 9th Plan, the focus was laid down to construct as many as mew channels to supplement the potential creation such that the socio-economic condition of rural masses is improved considerably and poverty level is minimized. In 10th Five Year Plan, the thrust area is to improve the existing channels, up-gradation of few channels and construction of new channels to cover large cultivable command area. In order to have effective utilization of irrigation water, an act entitled �Water Tax Act, 2002� has been passed by Sikkim Legislative Assembly and the same is under the process of implementation. ANALYSIS OF CENSUS RESULT1. Progress in installation of minor irrigation schemes: Sikkim was declared ad 23rd State of India on 16.05.1975. The geographical area of the State is 7096 sq.km. Even since Government of India has been extending its help for planning towards the fulfillment of the basic irrigation facilities is being achieved since number the mid of 7th Five Year Plan, only so far, but in future we intend to take up a number of lift/drink/sprinkler irrigation scheme and the pilot project is already hand at Marming in South district for the lift irrigation schemes.
2. From the State level abstract it is clear that there are total of 1076 number of schemes out of which 832 are Govt. owned and remaining owned by group of farmers, panchayat etc.
3. Out of 1076 channel 234 are for Marginal farmers 266 for small farmers 318 for medium and 258 for big farmers.
4. Similarly 199 channels are for schedule caste beneficiaries, 384 for schedule tribe and 493 for others.
5. Year wise commissioning of MI channel has been given in State/District level abstracts.
6. Out of 1076 numbers 942 are fully being utilized covering culturable command area.
7. The gross potential created during kharif is 13367.29 ha. Rabi 6444.10 ha. perennial 2121.23 ha. Others 1219.28 ha. With a total of 23151.90 ha. The total area irrigated during 2000-01 comes to 14421.00 ha. DISTRICT WISE ANALYSISSikkim is divided into 4 districts, namely East, North, South and West with their Head quarter at Gangtok, Mangan, Namchi and Gyalshing respectively.
1. EAST: East district has 436 numbers of channels with a gross potential creation of 9237.99 ha.
2. NORTH: North district has got 83 number of channel with gross potential creation of 2078.00 ha.
3. SOUTH: South district has got 83 number of channel with gross potential creation of 6013.79 ha.
4. WEST: West district has got 83 number of channel with gross potential creation of 5822.12 ha.
Other details are there in the district wise and blockwise abstract details include in the report.


AS PER THE DATE AVAILABLE IN STATISTICAL CELL OF IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT GOVERNMENT OF SIKKIM YEARWISE ACHIEVEMENT OF MINOR IRRIGATION CHANNELS WORKS UNDER TAKEN FROM 1994-95 TO 2007-08