Question : DAMS

(a) the details of small, medium and large dams along with the policy laid down by the Government for the use of dam water on rivers by the Union Government and State Governments;

(b) whether it has been brought to the notice of the Government that the people residing on the upper portions of the rivers and the people who had handed over their land for the construction of dams are not given the right to use dam waters;

(c) if so, the details thereof along withthe reasons therefor including the action taken by the Government in this regard; and

(d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to supply drinking water to villages near the dams from the dam waters?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (PROF.SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a) There are 4857 large dams in India which have been completed as per National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) maintained by Central Water Commission(CWC) containing the details of dams having height of more than 15 metresfrom it’s deepest foundation. No separate classification such as small and medium dams is used while compiling such data by CWC.

National Water Policy, 2012 has inter-alia recommended that Water is required for domestic, agricultural, hydro-power, thermal power, navigation, recreation, etc. Utilization in all these diverse uses of water should be optimized and an awareness of water as a scarce resource should be fostered.

(b)&(c) The Government is committed to provide proper resettlement and rehabilitation to the people residing on the upper portions of the rivers and the people who had handed over their land for the construction of dams. The Central Government has enacted the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 to ensure the same.

(d) The State Governments take necessary action for supply of drinking water to all habitations including villages near the dams from the dam waters. Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments through National Rural Drinking Water Programme.