Question : Inter-linking of Rivers

(a) whether the Government proposes to link certain rivers in the country;
(b) if so, the details of the ongoing projects in this regard, State/river-wise and the rivers revived so far;
(c) the funds allocated during each of the last three years and the current year for the purpose, State-wise;
(d) whether the Government proposes to form a law for checking illegal construction on river banks and indiscriminate exploitation of ground water and for water conservation; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister

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

(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) & (b) The Government has taken up the implementation of the Inter-linking of River (ILR) projects in a consultative manner. The National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared by then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR)) in August 1980 for transferring water from water surplus basins to water-deficit basins. Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs). The names of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links, names of rivers and the States concerned are given in Annexure.

Under NPP four priority links have been identified for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) under the Peninsular Rivers Component viz; Ken-Betwa link project (KBLP) Phase –I & II, Damanganga-Pinjal link project, Par-Tapi-Narmada link project and Godavari-Cauvery link project. The preparation of DPR of a project is taken up only after consent of concerned State Governments. Based on the concurrence of the concerned States, DPRs of KBLP Phase-I & Phase-II, Damanganga-Pinjal link project and Par-Tapi-Narmada link project have been completed. The techno-economic clearance and various statutory clearances of the KBLP Phase-I have been accorded except clearance from Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court. Based on the request of Government of Madhya Pradesh, Lower Orr dam, Bina complex and Kotha barrage projects have been included in KBLP Phase-II. The DPR of these projects have been completed by NWDA/Government of Madhya Pradesh. The Environmental Clearance and Forest Land Diversion Clearances for Lower Orr dam have been recommended by Expert Appraisal Committee and Forest

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Advisory Committee of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) respectively. Clearance for Resettlement and Rehabilitation plan of Project Affected Families has also been accorded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) subject to certain conditions. Environmental clearance and Stage-I&II clearances for Bina complex projects have been accorded by MoEF & CC.

The draft Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for implementation of Ken-Betwa Link Project has been sent to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for concurrence.

The techno-economic clearance of the Damanganga-Pinjal link project has also been
accorded, subject to statutory clearances. The DPR of Par-Tapi-Narmada link project has been completed by NWDA. The combined draft MoA for implementation of Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada Link (including the four intra-state link projects of Maharashtra State) has been sent to Maharashtra and Gujarat State Governments for concurrence.

(c) An enabling allocation of Rs.100 lakhs for ILR programme has been made in the budget of each of the last three years including current year. As the ILR projects are not at implementation stage, hence, no expenditure has been incurred on implementation of the ILR projects so far.

(d) & (e) Flood-plain zoning is a concept central to flood plain management. Flood-plain zoning measures aim at demarcating zones or areas likely to be affected by floods of different magnitudes or frequencies and probability levels, and specify the types of permissible developments in these zones, so that whenever floods actually occur, the damage can be minimized, if not avoided.

A model draft bill for flood plain zoning legislation was circulated by the Union Government in 1975 to all the States, however, only States of Manipur, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand had enacted the legislation. The bill aims at no hindrance to natural flow of river and mitigation of likely damage by floods. This Ministry has repeatedly impressed upon the State/ UT Governments in this regard.

Moreover, the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has circulated a Model Bill (2005) to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 15 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation on the lines of Model Bill.

Further, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3 (3) of the “Environment (Protection) Act, 1986” for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water development and management in the Country. So far, CGWA has notified 162 areas in the country where ground water withdrawal through new abstraction structures is not permitted, except for drinking and domestic uses. CGWA has also issued advisories to the State Governments and UTs from time to time regarding water conservation and water harvesting. Industries/infrastructure units/mining projects in 23 States/UTs require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from CGWA for ground water extraction, which is granted with mandatory conditions aimed at ground water augmentation and prevention of its contamination. Regulatory measures are being implemented through State Ground Water Authorities or through Government Orders in the remaining States/UTs.

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ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2649 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.12.2018 REGARDING “INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS”.

Names of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links, the States involved, name of rivers and status of Feasibility Reports/Detailed Project Report

Sl. No Name Rivers States concerned Status of PFR/FR/DPR
Peninsular Component
1 Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link Mahanadi & Godavari Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh FR Completed
2 Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Pulichintala) link Godavari & Krishna -do- FR Completed
3 Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link Godavari & Krishna Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Chattisgarh, FR Completed
4 Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada) link Godavari & Krishna Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh FR Completed
5 Krishna (Almatti) – Pennar link Krishna & Pennar -do- FR Completed
6 Krishna (Srisailam) – Pennar link Krishna & Pennar -do- FR Completed
7 Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila ) link Krishna & Pennar Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka, FR Completed
8 Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link Pennar & Cauvery Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry FR Completed
9 Cauvery (Kattalai) - Vaigai -Gundar link Cauvery, Vaigai & Gundar Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry FR Completed
10 Ken-Betwa link
Ken & Betwa Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh FR & DPR (Ph-I&II) Completed
11 Parbati -Kalisindh- Chambal link Parbati, Kalisindh & Chambal Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh (UP requested to be consulted during consensus building) FR Completed
12 Par-Tapi-Narmada link Par, Tapi & Narmada Maharashtra & Gujarat FR & DPR Completed
13 Damanganga - Pinjal link Damanganga & Pinjal Maharashtra & Gujarat FR & DPR Completed
14 Bedti - Varda link Bedti & Varda Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka PFR Completed
15 Netravati – Hemavati link Netravati & Hemavati Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala PFR Completed
16 Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link Pamba, Achankovil & Vaippar Kerala & Tamil Nadu, FR Completed

Himalayan Component Contd...
1. Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga (M-S-T-G) link Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga Assam, West Bengal, Bihar& Bhutan PFR completed
2. Kosi-Ghaghra link Kosi & Ghaghra Bihar , Uttar Pradesh & Nepal PFR completed
3. Gandak-Ganga link Gandak & Ganga -do- Draft FR completed
(Indian portion)
4. Ghaghra-Yamuna link Ghaghra & Yamuna -do- FR completed (Indian portion)
5. Sarda-Yamuna link Sarda & Yamuna Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand & Nepal FR completed (Indian portion)
6. Yamuna-Rajasthan link Yamuna & Sukri Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana & Rajasthan Draft FR completed
7. Rajasthan-Sabarmati link Sabarmati -do- Draft FR completed
8. Chunar-Sone Barrage link Ganga & Sone Bihar & Uttar Pradesh Draft FR completed
9. Sone Dam – Southern Tributaries of Ganga link Sone & Badua Bihar & Jharkhand PFR completed
10. Ganga(Farakka)-Damodar-Subernarekha link Ganga, Damodar & Subernarekha West Bengal, Odisha & Jharkhand Draft FR completed
11. Subernarekha-Mahanadi link Subernarekha & Mahanadi West Bengal & Odisha Draft FR
Completed
12.
Kosi-Mechi link Kosi &Mechi Bihar , West Bengal & Nepal PFR completed Entirely lies in Nepal
13. Ganga (Farakka)-Sunderbans link Ganga & Ichhamati West Bengal Draft FR completed
14. Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link
(Alternative to M-S-T-G) Manas, Tista & Ganga -do- (Alternative to M-S-T-G Link) dropped

• PFR- Pre Feasibility Report
• FR- Feasibility Report
• DPR- Detailed Project Report


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