(a) whether only 8.5% of total flow of surface water of all the rivers is stored for irrigation and power in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to augment the storage capacity of rivers so that demand for power and irrigation could be met?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI)
(a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) of
STARRED QUESTION NO. 396 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON
23.08.2004 REGARDING STORAGE CAPACITY OF RIVERS.
(a) to (c) The storage capacity created so far is about
11 % of the average annual water availability in the
country. This includes storage capacity created through
major, medium and minor irrigation projects throughout the
country.
Water being a State Subject, water resources
schemes including storage projects are planned, executed and
maintained by the respective State Governments. As per
present assessment, the total estimated storage capacity of
the various projects under construction is about 76 Billion
Cubic Metre (BCM) and that for the projects under
formulation is about 108 BCM. Government of India has
launched Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
for early completion of ongoing water resources schemes.