Question : WATER RESERVOIR PROJECTS IN JHARKHAND

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)

(a) to (d) Batane Reservoir Project is an Inter-State project between Bihar and Jharkhand. As per information available in Central Water Commission, this Project envisages construction of a dam across river Batane near village Dhobidih, a diversion barrage across the river near village Lodia in Palamau district (Jharkhand), 31.46 km long Right Main Canal (initial 14.14 km in Jharkhand and remaining 17.32 km in Bihar) and 25.40 km long Left Main Canal (initial 6.4 km in Jharkhand and remaining 19.0 km in Bihar) and distribution system. Latest estimated cost of the project for Jharkhand portion is Rs.71.22 crore. Total expenditure incurred upto March, 2007 is Rs.45.83 crore.

The proposed outlay for XI Plan is Rs. 20.00 crore. The physical progress of various components of the project as a whole upto 31.10.2008 is as under:

Components	Dam Barrage Main and Branch Distributaries	Water courses Canals and Minors

Progress	98% 100%	00% (Left)	52% NIL	75% (Right)

Jharkhand Portion not started due to rocky strata.

As per the Report of the Working Group on Water Resources for XI Five Year Plan, Kanhar Reservoir Project is a new major irrigation project of XI Plan proposed to be constructed in Garhwa district of Jharkhand State. The latest estimated cost of this project is Rs.1266.00 crore. An outlay of Rs. 300 crore has been kept during the XI Plan. Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Kanhar Reservoir Scheme received in Central Water Commission in November, 1998 for Rs. 1015.76 crore was examined and comments on various aspects were communicated to the State Government. Compliance to the comments was not received further. However, Government of Jharkhand communicated in January, 2008 proposing to construct a barrage 8 km. downstream of the proposed dam. Therefore, the State Government was requested to submit preliminary project report for examination in CWC for according `in principle consent`, before taking up the work of preparation of its DPR.

Irrigation is a state subject and irrigation projects are planned, funded and implemented by the concerned State Governments from their own resources as per their own priorities. However, Central Government provides financial assistance to the State Governments under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) for expeditious completion of ongoing projects after their investment clearance from the Planning Commission as per the guidelines of the programme in force from time to time.

Batane Reservoir Project, for which investment clearance has been given by the Planning Commission, was proposed by the State under AIBP during 2000-01 and Central Assistance of Rs. 3.335 crore was provided to it. The stage has not reached for giving central assistance to Kanhar Project under AIBP.