Question : UTILISATION OF RIVER WATER

(a) whether any study has been conducted to assess the irrigation potential and utilization of river water in the States/ UTs of Himalayan region;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the water of Himalayan rivers and the rivers flowing through Haryana and Punjab is not being fully utilized and a large number of areas of Punjab and Haryana are ravaged by the floods caused by these rivers;

(d) if so, the details thereof during the last three years, State-wise; and

(e) the region-wise and the river-wise details of the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to utilize the water from these rivers?

THE MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND WATER RESOURCES ( SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL)

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.+337 REGARDING UTILISATION OF RIVER WATER DUE FOR REPLY ON 25.08.2011

(a) & (b) Central Water Commission had assessed the irrigation potential in the entire country as 139.89 million hectares. The irrigation potential in various States/UTs including the States/UTs of Himalayan region are given in Annexure-I.

The National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD), in its report in 1999, has assessed net surface water utilization requirement for the entire country as 680 billion cubic meters (BCM). The net surface water utilization requirement for various States/UTs including the States/UTs of Himalayan region is given in Annexure-I.

(c) Due to seasonal and temporal variations in rainfall/river flow and inadequate storage capacity, the river waters are not being fully utilized. During monsoon, some of the areas of Punjab and Haryana are ravaged by floods caused by the rivers.

(d) ‘Rashtriya Barh Ayog’ (1980) has assessed the flood prone area in Punjab and Haryana as 3.70 and 2.35 million hectares respectively. As per available information, the State Governments of Punjab and Haryana has reported that the area affected by floods in 2010 were 0.016 and 0.221 million hectares respectively.

(e) Various schemes for utilization of river waters are conceived, planned and implemented by the respective State Governments. However, Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments with a view to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programme. Assistance is provided to the States by Ministry of Water Resources under various schemes / programme namely “Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme”, “Command Area Development and Water Management Programme”, “Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies” “Flood Management”, etc. The details of assistance provided to various State Governments during the years 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 & 2010-11 are at Annexures II to V.