Question : UTILISATION OF RIVER WATER

(a) whether the Government propose to launch any strategy for the optimum utilisation of river water in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the efforts/achievements made by the Government in this regard ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SMT. BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY)

(a) to (c) The strategy for optimum utilization of river water in the country was launched in 1987 when the National Water Policy was adopted by the National Water Resources Council headed by the Prime Minister. The Policy, inter-alia lays stress on conservation and augmentation of the availability of water by adopting measures for maximizing retention and minimizing losses. Accordingly, the water resources projects are prepared on the basis of an overall plan for the drainage basin as a whole or for a sub-basin. The development projects are generally formulated by the States within the framework of such an overall plan. The policy also lays emphasis on making water available to the water short areas by transfer from one river basin to another based on a national perspective. A separate organization has been established by the Government to examine the feasibility of the water transfer proposals. About 3600 large dams and reservoirs and 250 barrages have already been constructed to harness the available water resources and augment water supplies.

Government of India is also promoting conjunctive use of surface and ground water, rainwater harvesting through watershed management programme, artificial recharge of ground water and roof top rainwater harvesting for which technical and financial assistance is provided to the State Governments and other implementing agencies.