(a) whether the Union Government proposes to include more rivers in the National River Conservation Plan;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Union Government has received proposals from various State Governments including the State Government of Maharashtra in this regard;
(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
(e) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question
No. 298 to be answered on Wednesday, the 9th December 2009 on `National River
Conservation Plan`
(a) to (e) The river conservation programme started with the launching of the
Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-I in the year 1985. Subsequently, major tributaries
of the river Ganga, namely, Yamuna, Gomti and Damodar were included under the GAP-II.
In the year 1995, National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) was initiated covering 18
rivers in 46 towns spread over 10 States. Proposals received from State Governments
from time to time for inclusion of additional rivers/towns in the NRCP are considered
based upon the funds available under the Plan, degree of pollution, scope of coverage
of works under other Central Plan Schemes like Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal
Mission and the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small & Medium Towns, State
Governments` commitment for contribution of matching share of costs etc. This Plan
presently covers 38 rivers in 167 towns spread over 20 States. The state wise details
of rivers covered under NRCP are given in the Annexure.
In the State of Maharashtra, Krishna River along Karad and Sangli, Godavari
River along Nashik, Trimbakeshwar and Nanded, Tapi River along Prakasha and Panchganga
River along Kolhapur are included in the NRCP. No new proposal for inclusion of more
rivers or towns under NRCP has been received from the Government of Maharashtra.