No Central Water Tax On Farmers; PIB Debunks Fake Social Media Claims

The Union Government has issued a strong clarification refuting widespread rumours on social media claiming that it plans to impose a tax on water usage for agricultural purposes.

In a press conference, Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri CR Patil categorically dismissed the claim, confirming that such decisions lie solely with State Governments.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation issued a response after certain media reports and online posts inaccurately claimed that the government would require farmers to pay for irrigation water under a new pilot project.

Clarifying the pilot project

The Ministry clarified that the reports refer to the ‘Modernisation of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM)’ scheme, which the government is implementing under the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY).

Through this pilot initiative, the government aims to improve irrigation efficiency, ensure equitable water distribution, and deploy advanced technologies such as pressurised pipelines, IoT devices, and SCADA systems.

The government reiterated that the project has no provision for mandating user charges for water usage by farmers.

During the press briefing, Minister CR Patil firmly addressed the media’s questions, stating that the Centre has issued no directive to impose any tax or charge on agricultural water use.

The Ministry further emphasised that both ‘agriculture’ and ‘water’ are State subjects under the Constitution of India.

As such, any decision regarding water usage charges—if considered at all—must come from individual State Governments or local Water User Associations (WUAs).

The Centre has no authority to impose such charges unilaterally.

This clarification comes in response to a wave of misinformation that could have caused unnecessary concern among farmers.

The Ministry has urged all media outlets and public stakeholders to verify facts through official sources before circulating such claims.

Appeal for responsible reporting

To curb the spread of misinformation, the Ministry also issued the statement in the interest of transparency and public awareness.

It highlighted the role of media in ensuring responsible journalism and requested outlets to avoid publishing speculative reports that might create confusion within the farming community.

The official PIB Fact Check has also flagged the viral posts as false, urging the public to rely on verified government updates.

With this statement, the Centre aims to reassure farmers across India that no water tax is being introduced under any Central Government scheme and that water use for agriculture remains a matter for state-level policy decisions.

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