Question : HASDEO BANGO IRRIGATION PROJECT

(a) whether the Government are aware of assigning the construction work alongwith drawing and design of the canal at the left bank of Hasdeo Bango Project of Chhatisgarh to private sector on a turnkey basis;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the State Government is empowered to make arbitrary changes in the drawing design approved by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Union Government; and

(d) if not, the basis on which the approved drawing Hasdeo Bango Project is being altered?

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI ARJUN CHARAN SETHI)

(a) &(b) Irrigation being a state subject, the responsibility of planning, investigation, funding alongwith priority, execution, operation and maintenance of irrigation projects, including irrigation and flood control primarily rests with the concerned State Governments themselves. It has been reported that the Government of Chhattisgarh has awarded to a private agency the balance works of Hasdeo Bango Multipurpose Project consisting of canal system of Phase III and Phase IV to cover irrigation for nearly 62 thousand hectare on turnkey basis at a cost of Rs. 173.70 crore in February, 2002 with completion period of 15 months.

(c) & (d) The Central Water Commission (CWC) apprises the project proposals received from the State Governments for investment clearance. The Central Design Organisation of the States provide the design details in the detailed project report which are examined by the CWC as per requirement. The revised estimate of Hasdeo Bango Multipurpose project (Chhattisgarh) estimated to cost Rs. 1043.88 crore received in CWC on 12.1.2001 is in the various stages of appraisal.