THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) & (b) Yes Sir. Rivers originating in Himalayas namely Ganga
and its tributaries mainly cause frequent floods in the States
of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal while the Brahmaputra,
Barak and their tributaries mainly cause floods in Assam,
Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.
(c) & (d) Though flood management is a state subject, the
Central Government is also providing assistance to the State
Governments including financial assistance for taking up
critical flood management works.
As regards the projects on the tributaries of river
Ganga, which flow to India from Nepal, the Government of India
is having regular discussions with Nepal. In this context
agreement has been reached with Nepal and a scheme at a cost of
Rs. 29.34 crore has been approved to take up field
investigations and preparation of Detailed Project Report on
Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage
Cum Diversion Scheme which interalia will have substantial
flood control benefits for North Bihar. The Joint Project
Office and other field offices to take up the above work are
being opened in Nepal in August 2004.
Further Kamla & Bagmati Multipurpose Projects on
river Kamla & Bagmati are also under discussion with Nepal,
though the Nepalese side feels that these projects may not be
feasible because of social and environmental implications. This
matter was discussed during the 5th meeting of Joint Team of
Experts in June 2003 and is being followed up further.
Agreement has been reached to take up field
investigations and preparation of DPR of 600 MW Burhi Gandaki
Hydroelectric Project by an Indian agency on river Burhi Gandak
which is a tributary of river Gandak.
An understanding also exists between India and Nepal
to extend the existing embankments on Lalbakeya, Bagmati, Kamla
& Khando rivers into Nepalese territory upto the non-spilling
zone and tie them up with high ground with corresponding
strengthening of emabankments on the Indian side.
As regards Brahmaputra, for effective flood control
measures and to exploit the large hydroelectric potential, the
Siang (Dihang) Dam Project and the Subansiri Dam Project to be
taken up in three stages each, have been entrusted to National
Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). Action has been
initiated for execution of Lower Subansiri project by the NHPC
while other projects are under various stages of
investigations/approval. Similarly, Tipaimukh Multi purpose
Project on Barak has since been entrusted to North Eastern
Electric Power Corporation. Pagladiya Dam Project in Assam has
been approved by the Government, which is being executed by
Brahmaputra Board.
Further, as a part of non-structural measures for
flood management, cooperation exists between India and its
neighbouring countries Nepal, Bhutan & China under which the
hydrological data is received which is utilized in formulating
flood forecasts on the Indian side.
As regards assistance provided by World Bank and
other International agencies, none of the on going externally
aided projects is addressing flood control or having any
component related to flood control.