The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) was launched during 1996-97 to give loan assistance to the States to help them complete some of the incomplete major/medium irrigation projects, which were in advanced stages of completion. The Surface Minor Irrigation Schemes of North-Eastern States, Hill States of Sikkim, Uttaranchal, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and KBK Districts of Orissa have also been provided Central Loan Assistance (CLA) under this programme since 1999-2000. Grant component has also been introduced in the programme from April 2004. As per existing AIBP criteria effective from December 2006, grant equal to 25% of the project cost for major and medium irrigation projects in non-special category States, 90% for major/medium/minor irrigation projects in special category States are provided to the selected projects. KBK districts of Orissa are treated at par with special category States. The minor irrigation schemes in non-special category States falling in drought prone, tribal and flood prone areas are treated at par with special category States and are also given 90% grant of the project cost. The State Governments have been provided an amount of Rs.21739.8559 crore as Central Loan Assistance/Grant under AIBP upto 31st March, 2007 since inception of this programme covering 229 major/medium irrigation projects and 6205 Surface Minor Irrigation Schemes. State wise details of Central Loan Assistance/ Grant released under AIBP are given in the Table. After commencement of this Programme 91 major/medium and 4418 Surface MI Schemes have so far been completed. An additional irrigation potential of 4.634 million hectare has been created through major/medium irrigation projects and an irrigation potential of 0.152 million hectares has been created through Surface MI Schemes upto March, 2007.