Question : FLOOD MANAGEMENT



(a) the details of the flood management project proposals lying pending for approval/ approved during each of the last three years and current year;

(b) the reasons for the delay and the time by which these projects are likely to be approved, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government is considering new projects or special grant for setting up a dedicated fund to take up studies on the issues relating to protection and river bank erosion management and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Union Government had any dialogue with the Government of Nepal for development of storage projects on rivers coming from Nepal and if so, the details thereof;

(e) the amount of water which goes out untapped every year and flows down to sea due to lack of storage facility in the country; and

(f) whether the Central Water Commission has been advised to give prior warning about rise in water levels in lakes in higher reaches which are more than 50 hectares in area and if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister



THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION; PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND TEXTILES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE).(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) The State Governments formulate the proposals for flood management and such eligible proposals which secure all mandatory clearance including investment clearance of Planning Commission are sent to Ministry of Water Resources for availing central assistance through the monitoring agencies for approval under Flood Management Programme. In October, 2013, the Cabinet approved continuation of Flood Management Programme during XII Plan. Under this Programme, a total of 97 new flood management projects having all mandatory clearances were received and the same were approved during the years 2012-13 to 2014-15 of XII Plan as per State-wise details given below:

 
SN State Number of Works Estimated Cost Approved ( Rs. in crore) 1 Assam 41 1386.97 2 Bihar 4 447.63 3 Jammu 14 163.18 & Kashmir 4 Himachal 4 1139.62 Pradesh 5 Nagaland 3 37.38 6 Odisha 1 62.32 7 Sikkim 17 261.40 8 Uttar 3 291.70 Pradesh 9 Uttara 9 183.45 khand 10 West 1 438.94 Bengal Total 97 4412.60
(b) Does not arise in view of reply under part (a) above.

(c) No, Madam.

(d) The Governments of India and Nepal have set up a Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources (JMCWR) of which Indian side is headed by Minister of Water Resources and Nepalese side by Minister of Energy. The Government of India is having continuous dialogue with Government of Nepal on bilateral issues related to construction of storage dams on rivers coming from Nepal.

In addition to above, there exists a Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) headed by Water Resources Secretaries of both the countries. It has been agreed to set up a Pancheshwar Development Authority for speedy implementation of Pancheshwar Multi- purpose Project and the bi-lateral issues about field investigations for Sapta Kosi High Dam were also discussed with mutually agreed solutions to expedite the progress.

(e) The total utilisable water resource in the country has been estimated by Central Water Commission as 1123 Billion Cubic Metre ( BCM) of which 690 BCM is surface water resource and 433 BCM is ground water resource. It has been estimated in the year 2009 by Central Water Commission (CWC) that about 450 BCM of surface water is being utilised for various purposes. Further, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has also assessed in 2009 that about 243 BCM of ground water is being utilised for various purposes. The rest of the water could be considered to be currently flowing into sea flows and the neighbouring countries as also being lost due to evaporation.

(f) During every monsoon, the Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors on monthly basis the identified glacial lakes and water bodies having water spread area more than 50 hectare. Any untoward growth in size of such lakes is informed to the concerned State Governments and then high resolution monitoring of such lakes is carried out through National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).

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