(a) whether the 12th National Conference of Water Resources Ministers was held recently;
(b) if so, the details and outcome thereof;
(c) whether some State Governments have expressed their views
against implementation of inter-linking of rivers project in their
States as the project is detrimental to their water management
position; and
(d) if so, the reaction of the Union Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI ARJUN CHARAN SETHI)
(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) of STARRED
QUESTION NO. 273 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.3.2003
REGARDING CONFERENCE OF WATER RESOURCES MINISTERS
(a) & (b) The 12th National Conference of Water Resources and
Irrigation Ministers was held on 5th February, 2003 at New Delhi.
The Agenda for the Conference included Vision for Integrated Water
Resources Development and Management; Review of Performance of
Ninth Plan and Strategy for Tenth Plan; Action Plan for
Implementation of National Water Policy, 2002; Need for Water
Sector Reform by way of Performance Improvement, Rationalisation
of Water Rates, Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
for expeditious completion of Ongoing, Major and Medium Projects,
River Basin Organisations; Command Area Development Programme and
Participatory Irrigation Management; Inter-Basin Transfer Links
Studied by National Water Development Agency and Setting up of
Third Irrigation Commission.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister released the Document on “Vision
for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management†in the
Curtain Raiser of Launching the Freshwater Year, 2003 held prior
to the Conference.
The Action Plan for Implementation of the National Water
Policy, 2002 has been adopted in the conference. It has also been
decided that certain States, who have not formulated their State
Water Policy, will formulate its own State Water Policy backed
with an operational action plan within two years as per provisions
of the National Water Policy, 2002. It was agreed that all-out
efforts would be made by all concerned to meet the objectives set
for the Water Resources Sector in the Tenth Plan document adopted
by National Development Council. Reforms required in the water
sector are key to the economic sustainability of the irrigation
systems. Initiatives towards sector reforms as discussed in the
Conference and those detailed in the Tenth Plan document is
required to be taken up with right earnestness. Reform measures
including rationalisation of water rates are also important
aspects of Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme as special
incentives are being provided for such measures for funding of
schemes. The Restructured programme of the Command Area
Development will be pursued further. The States will make all-out
efforts in the implementation of the restructured programme.
Participatory Irrigation Management is central to the sustainable
management of irrigation systems as also for improving their
efficiency.
Recognising this, the implementation of the CAD Programme is
closely linked with Participatory Irrigation Management, wherein
beneficiaries are required to bear a small part of the overall
costs.
(c) & (d) On the issue of inter-linking of rivers, the
representatives of some of the States did express their
reservation on some grounds. With a view to bringing about a
consensus among the States, the Central Government has set-up a
Task Force under the Chairmanship of Shri Suresh Prabhu, Member of
Parliament (Lok Sabha) on December 13, 2002 towards expediting the
inter-inking proposal with the following terms of reference: -
(i) Provide guidance on norms of appraisal of individual projects in respect of economic viability, socio-economic impacts, environmental impacts and preparation of resettlement plans;
(ii) Devise suitable mechanism for bringing about speedy consensus amongst the States;
(iii) Prioritize the different project components for preparation of Detailed Project Reports and implementation;
(iv) Propose suitable organizational structure for implementing the project;
(v) Consider various modalities for project funding; and
(vi) Consider international dimensions that may be involved in some project components.