The government said on Wednesday that an independent evaluation was being carried out of all water conservation works taken up during the last two fiscals under the rural employment guarantee scheme and the report will be ready by September this year.

A Rural Development Ministry release said 15.47 lakh water-related works, including 5.66 lakh farm ponds, were completed in 2016-17 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The release said nearly 90 lakh hectare of irrigation potential has been created through MGNREGS in 2015-16 and 2016-17. 

"An independent, multi-institution, multi-disciplinary evaluation of all the water conservation works taken up in FY 2015-17 period under MGNREGS is being undertaken to ascertain the impact. The report will be ready by 30 September 2017," the release said.

It said last fiscal saw "an unprecedented governance transformation" in the MGNREGS with a sustained thrust on water conservation. 

"The total provisional expenditure of Rs 58,056 crore (Central plus State) is the highest ever in MGNREGS in any year. Fifty-six per cent women in the wage employment generated is also the highest ever," the release said. 

It said states have been advised to ensure that at least 65 per cent expenditure in 2,264 identified water distressed blocks will pertain to water conservation and water management in 2017-18.

The release said 96 per cent wages under MNREGS were being made through electronic payment, more than 89 lakh assets had been geo-tagged and 93 lakh job cards deleted after proper verification.

The release said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Chief Ministers of the drought-affected states, who undertook region-specific unique water conservation initiatives using MGNREGS resources. 

It said states such as Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra used MGNREGS as a resource for drought proofing for livelihood security. 

The release said the MGNREGS promoted large-scale individual beneficiary schemes and initiatives towards waste management. 

It said considerable emphasis was laid on completion of incomplete works in the last fiscal. 

"More than 56 lakh works have been completed during the year which is the highest since the inception of the programme," the release said, adding that Mission Water Conservation guidelines had also been issued. 

The release said reduction in delay in payment of wages and social audits will be among key areas of work in the present fiscal.