Question : SOIL EROSION

(a) whether the Government propose to launch any programme to check major soil erosion of river banks in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the funds provided to each State, to check the menace’

(c) whether the Government are aware of major soil erosion in Godavary District of Andhra Pradesh, caused by the river Godavary;

(d) if so, whether the Government have directed the Central Water Commission to study this phenomena; and

(e) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken to check the soil erosion caused by rivers in the country particularly in Andhra Pradesh?

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

(a)&(b) Flood Management is a state subject. Therefore planning, investigation and execution of flood management schemes including anti erosion measures are implemented by the State Government. Central Government render assistance which are technical, catalytical and promotional in nature. The Central Government have been assisting the State Government for flood management in Brahmaputra Valley since 1974-75. An amount of Rs.390.94 crore as Central Loan Assistance and Rs.10.09 crore as Grant has been provided upto 31.3.2000 to the State Government of Assam to check bank erosion in Brahmaputra and the Barak Basins. Central Government has also provided Central Assistance to the State Government of West Bengal amounting to Rs. 30.00 crore during 1998-99 to check bank erosion from the river Ganga. Number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes have also been framed as under to check river erosion in different States.

i) Critical anti erosion works in Ganga Basin States and raising and strengthening of existing embankments along Kosi and Gandak rivers at an estimated cost of Rs.159.53 crore for the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. The scheme has been approved by the Central Government.
ii) Flood Control Schemes in Brahmaputra and Barak Basin at an estimated cost of Rs. 50.00 crore for the North-Eastern States.
iii) Critical anti-erosion works in coastal and other than Ganga Basin States at an estimated cost of Rs.39.93 crore for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat and Pondicherry.
Schemes at (ii) and (iii) above have been approved by the Expenditure Finance Committee.

(c),(d)&(e) Central Water Commission carries out sediment load observation in Godavari basin and brings out annual report Suspended Sediment Year Book Godavari. State Government of Andhra Pradesh have undertaken 36 nos. of anti erosion works amounting to Rs. 24.33 crore and proposes to take additional 19 nos. of anti erosion works at estimated cost of Rs.30.40 crore to prevent erosion of Godavari Flood Banks under the World Bank assisted project.