Question : CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS

(a) the details of the proposals received/approved for construction of dams in their respective States, State-wise including river Girna along with the funds sanctioned;

(b) the time by which pending proposal are likely to be approved and the work of the approved projects begun/completed along with the benefits the farmers are likely to get along with action taken theron;

(c) the issues faced by workers in development of dam construction; and

(d) whether the Government has prepared any plan for the welfare of the people displaced due to dam construction and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (PROF.SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a) Seventy (70) major, medium & multipurpose project proposals (New/ Revised) involving construction of dams have been received from State Governments during XII Five Year Plan. No new/revised project proposal on Girnar river has been received in CWC from the Gove- rnment of Maharashtra. Out of 70 project proposals, 19 proposals have been accepted by the Advisory Commi- ttee of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation. Their details are given in Annexure. The remaining projects are at various stages of appraisal in Central Water Commission (CWC) and other Central agencies.

Water Resources Projects are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Gover- nment of India provides technical and financial assis- tance to Sate Governments to encourage sustainable deve- lopment and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes such as Acce- lerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP).

Out of 19 project proposals accepted by Advisory Committee as mentioned above, 12 proposals have been included in the AIBP for Central Assistance. The details of fund sanctioned to these projects are given in Annexure.

(b) The timelines for the completion of appraisal of projects are defined in the guidelines for appraisal of the projects, issued by CWC. Time taken in cleara- nce of project is dependent upon the time taken by the Project Authorities in furnishing compliance to the observations of CWC and other Central Agencies and submission of other statutory clearances such as clearances from Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoE, F & CC), Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) etc., as necessary.

(c) The issues related to workers in development of dam construction pertain to the State Government concerned and are dealt with by them.

(d) The Government of India has issued the “Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Act, 2013” for the welfare of the people displaced due to dam cons- truction and other developmental projects. The Compe- nsation for project affected people are decided by the Project Authorities as per existing R&R policy of Centre/ State whichever is more beneficial.