(a) whether the Government is aware that land erosion by rivers in various parts of the country is increasing day-by-day;
(b) if so, the area of land thus eroded during the current plan period in various States including Chhattisgarh, State-wise;
(c) the names of rivers which are causing land erosion; and
(d) the steps taken or being taken by the Government check land erosion in the country?
(a)to (d) The erosion of banks and bed of a river is a natural phenomenon in alluvial rivers, the intensity of which varies with time and space. The schemes for flood control & anti- erosion works etc. are formulated and implemented by concerned States as per their priority. The Union Government supports the efforts of the States by providing technical advice and also promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical areas. The Government of India had launched Flood Management Programme (FMP) for providing central assistance to States for works relating to river management, flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, anti-sea erosion, flood proofing works, restoration of damage flood management works etc.
Under the Flood Management Programme (FMP), a total of 522 projects have been approved during XI and XII Plans, out of which 297 projects have been completed till date. These completed projects have provided reasonable protection against floods. A total central assistance of Rs 4873.07 crore has been released to various States which includes Rs. 19.32 crore to the State of Chhattisgarh.
The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, in May 2016, had constituted an Expert Committee on Erosion and Siltation in Rivers (ECESR) under the Chairmanship of Director, CWPRS, Pune, to study the problems of erosion, siltation and requirement of desiltation / dredging of rivers, particularly in Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers and suggest remedial measures.
The National Water Policy (2012), formulated by this Ministry has, inter-alia, recommended that in order to prevent loss of land eroded by river which causes permanent loss, revetments, spurs, embankments etc, should be planned, executed, monitored and maintained on the basis of morphological studies.
******