Question : ENCROACHMENT OF RIVER BEDS

(a) the existing schemes which regulate preservation and conservation of water bodies including river beds, lakes etc. and to check illegal encroachments;

(b) whether the Government proposes to evaluate and conduct audit of water bodies including rivers to assess the damage caused due to encroachments and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government proposes to establish a national authority or tribunal with judicial powers to look into the issuesinvolving encroachments of water bodies, river beds etc. and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government also proposes to set up a legislative framework for awarding stringent penalty to the encroachers and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (SUSHRI UMA BHARATI)

(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.333 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2014 REGARDING “ENCROACHMENT OF RIVER BEDS”.RAISED BY SHRI M.I. SHANAVAS AND SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

(a) The Ministry is not implementing any specific scheme directly providing for regulation, preservation and conservation of water bodies to check illegal encroachments. However, the Ministry is implementing two plan schemes viz.
(i) Repair, Renovation & Restoration of Water Bodies, with earmarked outlay for XII Plan as Rs. 6235 crore for revival of water bodies and
(ii) Flood Management Programme with outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore for works related to river management, anti-erosion and flood control, which may have indirect impact on the same. The Cabinet had approved continuation of both the above schemes in September and October, 2013 respectively for providing promotional central assistance to States as per guidelines of respective scheme.

(b) No Madam. The aspects like evaluation and audit of water bodies including rivers to assess the damage caused due to encroachments fall within the purview of State Governments.


(c) & (d) No Madam.

However, the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation had circulated a Model Flood Plain Zoning Bill to all the States / UTs for enacting suitable legislation and enforcement by States which envisages demarcation of zones of flood plains on the basis of flood frequencies and permit only the type of buildings specified for particular zone. Only the Governments of Manipur, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand have enacted legislation about Flood Plain Zoning.