(a) whether the problem of water scarcity can be addressed by streamlining the water management in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) whether the inter-linking of rivers can play a major role in water management; and
(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto along with the names of rivers selected so far for inter-linking?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. The development and management of water plays a vital role in tackling the problem of water scarcity. The National Water Policy (2012) states that water needs to be managed as a common pool community resource held by the State, under public trust doctrine to achieve food security, support livelihood, and ensure equitable and sustainable development for all. Water being a State subject, measures for management of water resources are primarily taken by respective State Governments. Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments by providing technical and financial assistance through various centrally funded programmes.
Central Government has formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources Development which envisages transfer of water from water surplus basins to water deficit basins to improve availability of water.
During 2016-17, ninety-nine (99) on-going Major/Medium irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), having ultimate irrigation potential of 76.03 lakh hectares and balance estimated cost of
Contd…P/2
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Rs.77595 crore (Central Assistance (CA) component of Rs. 31342 Crore) have been prioritized in consultation with States, for completion in phases up to December, 2019 along with their Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) works.
Central Government has launched the National Water Mission with the objective of conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources development and management.
Some other initiatives/measures taken by the Central Government for conservation and management of water are available at the URL:http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/MeasuresForGW-Depletion_1.pdf
(c) & (d) Yes, Madam. Interlinking of rivers can play a major role in Water Management in the country. The National Perspective Plan (NPP) for transferring water from water surplus basins to water-deficit basins was prepared in August 1980. The link projects under NPP are judicially planned and designed to transfer water from surplus basins to the deficit / water short basins and thus minimizing water going to sea unutilized and mitigating the effects of floods and droughts to some extent. Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs). The name of rivers selected for inter-linking and present status are given in Annexure-I.
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ANNEXURE-I
Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) & (d) of Unstarred Question No. †842 to be answered in Lok Sabha on 07.02.2019 regarding “Water Management”
Details of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links
Sl. No Name Rivers States concerned Present Status
Himalayan Component
1. Kosi-Mechi link Kosi & Mechi Bihar, West Bengal & Nepal PFR completed. Entirely lies in Nepal
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. Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga (M-S-T-G) link Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga Assam, West Bengal, Bihar& Bhutan PFR completed
11. Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link (Alternative to
M-S-T-G) Manas, Tista & Ganga -do- (Alternative to
M-S-T-G Link) dropped
12.
Ganga (Farakka)-Sunderbans link Ganga & Ichhamati West Bengal Draft FR completed
13. Ganga (Farakka)-Damodar-Subernarekha link Ganga, Damodar & Subernarekha West Bengal, Odisha & Jharkhand Draft FR completed
14. Subernarekha-Mahanadi link Subernarekha & Mahanadi West Bengal & Odisha Draft FR
Completed
Peninsular Component
15 Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link Mahanadi & Godavari Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh FR Completed
16 Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link Godavari & Krishna Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Chattisgarh, FR Completed
Contd…P/2
17 Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Pulichintala) link Godavari & Krishna -do- FR Completed
18 Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada) link Godavari & Krishna Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh FR Completed
19 Krishna (Almatti) – Pennar link Krishna & Pennar -do- FR Completed
20 Krishna (Srisailam) – Pennar link Krishna & Pennar -do- FR Completed
21 Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila ) link Krishna & Pennar Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka, FR Completed
22 Pennar (Somasila) – Palar-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link Pennar& Cauvery Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry FR Completed
23 Cauvery (Kattalai)- Vaigai -Gundar link Cauvery, Vaigai & Gundar Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry FR Completed
24 Ken-Betwa link Ken & Betwa Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh FR & DPR (Phase-I&II) Completed.
Comprehensive DPR sent to Govt. of MP & UP.
25 Parbati -Kalisindh- Chambal link Parbati, Kalisindh & Chambal Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh (UP requested to be consulted during consensus building) FR Completed
26 Par-Tapi-Narmada link Par, Tapi & Narmada Maharashtra & Gujarat FR & DPR Completed.
27 Damanganga - Pinjal link Damanganga & Pinjal Maharashtra & Gujarat FR & DPR Completed
28 Bedti -Varda link Bedti & Varda Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka PFR Completed
29 Netravati – Hemavati link Netravati & Hemavati Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala PFR Completed
30 Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link Pamba, Achankovil & Vaippar Kerala & Tamil Nadu, FR Completed
PFR- Pre Feasibility Report FR- Feasibility Report DPR- Detailed Project Report.