Government of India 
Welcome to Project Appraisal Organisation
Project Appraisal Organisation (PAO) is assigned the task of performing and coordinating the techno-economic appraisal of irrigation, flood control and multipurpose projects proposed by State Governments. PAO is headed by Chief Engineer and works under Water Project & Planning (WP&P) wing of CWC. Six (6) Directorates namely Project Appraisal (North), Project Appraisal (Central), Project Appraisal (South), Cost Appraisal (Irrigation)-1, Cost Appraisal (Irrigation)-2 and Cost Appraisal (HWF) works under PAO.
After establishment of techno-economic viability of the project, the Advisory Committee of DoWR, RD & GR on Irrigation, Flood Control and Multipurpose Projects headed by Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR considers the projects for acceptance and thereafter recommends the same for investment clearance. Since 1976, about 1621 projects have been considered and accepted by the Advisory Committee of Ministry of Water Resources on Irrigation, Flood Control and Multipurpose projects in 154 meetings till January 2024. The Summary Record of discussions of the meetings of the Advisory Committee of DoWR, RD & GR may be accessed through following link:
Besides these, the Hydro-power projects proposed by State Power Corporations/ Electricity Boards/ Private Sector Organisations for Techno-economic clearance by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) are also scrutinised in CWC from the view point of hydrology, civil design, inter-state issues and cost aspects of civil components. Technical aspects of water supply schemes and cost aspects of Flood Control Schemes (except projects for Ganga Basin and Brahmaputra Basin) are also appraised as and when referred to by State Governments.
Classification of the Irrigation Projects based on Culturable Command Area (CCA) is as under:
Major Irrigation Projects- CCA more than 10,000 ha
Medium Irrigation Projects- CCA between 2,000 ha and 10,000 ha
Minor Irrigation Projects- CCA less than 2,000 ha