(a) whether the Union Government has issued a notification and handed over the management and control of Uttar Koel and Batane Projects to the Government of Bihar;
(b) if so, whether the Government of Jharkhand has requested the Union Government to cancel the earlier notification and give the management and control of “head works†of Uttar Koel and Batane projects to the Government of Jharkhand; and
(c) if so, by when a final decision is likely to be taken in this
regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) to (c) Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000 provide for
constitution of Ganga & Sone Management Board for administration,
construction, maintenance and operation of water resources projects
in relation to Ganga and its tributaries & Sone and its
tributaries. Further Section 63 of the Act provides that the
arrangement in regard to supply of water for any area shall not be
modified to the disadvantage of any area by reason of the fact that
it is, by virtue of the provision of Part II of the Act, outside
the State in which the catchment area, reservoirs and other works
for supply of water, as the case may be, are located. Therefore,
on November, 14, 2000 a Notification under Section 63 of the Act
was issued in the interest of continuance of existing arrangement
in regard to supply of water to the successor States of Bihar and
Jharkhand in relation to 7 water resources projects including North
Koel & Batane Reservoir Project. The continuance of existing
arrangement was till the Ganga & Sone Management Board becomes
functional or any other suitable arrangement is made.
State Government of Jharkhand has requested for transferring
the responsibility of North Koel and Batane Reservoir Project to
Government of Jharkhand by modifying existing notification of
November, 2000. The Ministry of Water Resources convened an Inter-
State meeting on 22nd September, 2004 with the representatives of
the States of Jharkhand and Bihar to discuss inter alia the
construction and management of North-Koel and Batane Reservoir
Projects in Jharkhand. In the meeting, representatives of both
States have agreed for sharing the cost and benefit from these
projects as per the guidelines prepared by Central Water
Commission, as also construction of headworks by the State of
Jharkhand on behalf of Bihar as a deposit work. The cancellation
of the earlier notification is dependent upon receipt of
concurrence of Bihar and Jharkhand.