Question : Water Security Act

(a) whether the Government is contemplating stringent Water Security Act and River Conservation Act for rejuvenation of rivers and to prevent alarming exploitation of ground water;
(b) whether various rivers in the country including Rajasthan have reached on the verge of being extremely polluted or being biologically dead;
(c) if so, the steps taken by the Government for the inter-linking of rivers to ensure water throughout the year in all the rivers in Rajasthan; and
(d) the river-wise details thereof ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) No, Madam.

(b) According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 302 polluted rivers stretches have been identified an 275 rivers based on Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) Levels, a key indicator of organic pollution. Of these, 8 stretches of rivers namely Banas, Chambal, Chappi, Ghaggar, Kalisindh, Parvati, Jawai and Ujad have been identified as polluted stretches in Rajasthan.

(c) & (d) This Ministry has formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources development envisaging Inter-basin transfer of water from surplus basins to deficit basins/ areas. National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has prepared feasibility reports, which facilitated identification of 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component and 14 under Himalayan Component).

It is envisaged that Rajasthan will be benefitted by inter-basin transfer of water under Peninsular Component in case of Parbati -Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link, and under Himalayan Component in case of Sarda -Yamuna (SY) link and Yamuna ­ Rajasthan (YR) link.

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