(a) whether the Government has any plans to explore the underground flowing river Saraswati
and exploit its water;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the success achieved as a result thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
(a) whether the Government has any plans to explore the underground flowing river Saraswati
and exploit its water;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the success achieved as a result thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) to (c) Ministry of Water Resources has no plans to explore the underground flowing river Saraswati
and exploit its water. However, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has taken up a project named “ONGC
Project Saraswati†for exploration of deep ground water resources in drought prone arid/semi arid regions
of India with the objective to investigate (a) Existence of situations akin to Libyan Great Manmade River
Project and their exploitation in drought prone arid/semi arid regions of India. (b) Alternatively,
identification of deeper aquifers for exploitation of groundwater in drought prone arid/semi arid
regions otherwise not tapped by agencies such as State Groundwater Boards and central ground water
bodies. ONGC has informed that based on vertical electrical sounding survey result, one of the locations
identified was taken up for drilling and the well (Saraswati-1) near Jaisalmer town has been drilled up
to 554 m and produced reasonably less saline water (3050 milligrams per litres ) at the rate of 76000
litres per hour.