(a) whether in hilly States, particularly in Himachal Pradesh, the State Governments are
not able to utilize the water available in abundance for fulfilling the needs of potable water
and for irrigation purpose due to limited resources of State Governments;
(b) if so, whether the Union Government will take intiative in this regard to utilize the
water available in abundance for the purpose of drinking and irrigation; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES & MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) to (c) Water being a State subject, State Governments conceive, plan and implement
schemes for fulfilling the needs of potable water and for irrigation purposes. Due to
topographic constraints in hilly States, including Himachal Pradesh, it may not be
techno-economically viable to utilize all the water available. The State Government of
Himachal Pradesh has taken necessary measures to provide drinking water supply to entire
53,205 habitations by March, 2010 with the support of National Rural Drinking Water Supply
Scheme. Irrigation in 0.24 million hectares area has been developed against the irrigation
potential of 0.35 million hectares. Central Government provides necessary technical and
financial assistance to supplement the efforts of the State Governments. Himachal Pradesh
being one of the Special Category States, Central grants are provided under Accelerated
Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) at 90% of the works component of the project cost for
the irrigation projects.