Question : INTERLINKING OF RIVERS

(a) the details of the meeting of special committees set up on interlinking of rivers including representatives of State Governments who attended the meeting;

(b) whether the Government proposes to invoke Entry 56 to List 1 of 7th Schedule of the constitution for interlinking of rivers and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor especially regarding the linking Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar rivers as requested by Tamil Nadu;

(c) whether any study has been conducted with regard to the volume of water in each river and if so, the details thereof including suggestions received from the respective States;

(d) whether the Government has conducted any environmental impact study for the linking of Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar rivers as requested by Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Union Government has received any proposal from the Government of Rajasthan and public representatives to provide water from Sabarmati River of Gujarat to Pali, Sirohi and Jodhpur districts of Rajasthan and if so, the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

(PROF. SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a) The first meeting of the Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers (ILR), chaired by Hon’ble Union Minister of Water resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation was held on 17.10.14 at New Delhi. Irrigation/Water Resources Ministers of State Governments of Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Telangana along with the Secretaries of various States attended the meeting. Issues pertaining to background of Interlinking of Rivers, directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court for functioning of the Committee were discussed. It was decided to constitute sub-committees to expedite the objectives of the interlinking of river as per terms of reference of the Committee.

(b) Government has no proposal to invoke Entry 56 of List 1 of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India for interlinking of rivers programme, including Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar rivers. The Government is pursuing the inter-linking of the rivers programme in a fully consultative manner with the cooperation and in coordination with the States concerned as also in accordance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter.

(c) Central Water Commission has assessed the average annual water availability in the country as 1869 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM). However, the utilizable water resources, considering topographic, hydrological and other constraints, have been estimated to be about 1123 BCM comprising 690 BCM of surface water and 433 BCM of replenishable ground water. A statement indicating the State-wise availability of ground water resources is given at Annexure I. The average water resources potential and utilizable surface water resources have been assessed basin-wise and the details are at Annexure II.

(d) As there is no consensus among concerned States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar Link, NWDA has not taken up any Environmental Impact Study for the Project.

(e) NWDA has not received any proposal from the Government of Rajasthan to provide water from Sabarmati River to Pali, Sirohi and Jodhpur districts of Rajasthan. However, two intra-State link proposals i.e.
(i) Mahi – Luni link and
(ii) Wakal – Sabarmati – Sei – West Banas – Kameri link have been received from Government of Rajasthan for studies. Pre-feasibility Reports of these two intra-State links have been prepared by NWDA and sent to Govt. of Rajasthan. These links have not been found technically feasible for transfer of water as the concerned sub basins were found water deficit.