Question : DAMS ON UPPER YAMUNA

(a)Whether the Central Government has taken a serious note of the persistent water and power problems that the capital hasjl been facing over the past few years and a high level meeting consisting of Uttar Pradesh, Uttranchal, Rajasthan, Haryana and the National Capital Region Territory for construction of three dams in the upper reaches of the Yamuna river were considered ;

(b)Whether the Steering Committee comprising Secretaries to the Ministries of Power, Water Resources and Environment and Forests was constituted for this purpose ;

(c) If so, whether a road map of the construction of these dams have been prepared; and

(d) If so, the time by which the work on this project is likely to be started ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV)

(a)The Government is already aware of the water and power problems being faced in the Capital. The construction of three storage projects i.e Renuka, Kishau and Lakhwar Vyasi in upper reaches of river Yamuna was discussed, as an agenda item in the 3rd meeting of Upper Yamuna Review Committee chaired by Hon`ble Union Minister of Water Resources on 12.4.06 and it was decided to constitute a Steering Committee to formulate the strategy to expedite the works on the three storage projects.

(b)Yes, Sir. A Steering Committee comprising the Secretary (Water Resources), Secretary (Power), Secretary (Environment & Forests) from the Central Government and Irrigation/Water Resources Secretaries from the States of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh,Rajasthan, Haryana & NCT of Delhi was constituted as decided in the 3rd meeting of Upper Yamuna Review Committee.

(c) & (d) The Steering Committee has desired that Renuka dam project should be implemented expeditiously by the State of Himachal Pradesh. The Government of Uttaranchal informed the Committee of their decision in principle to entrust the Kishau dam project to Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC), which is looking into the different technical and cost aspects of the project to proceed further.On a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Lakhwar Vyasi Project submitted by National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC), comments of certain specialised Directorates of Central Water Commission have been forwarded to NHPC for compliance.The construction of the aforesaid projects can be started depending upon factors as applicable, such as compliance of observations of Central Apprising Agencies, Technical Clearance and Investment Clearance by Planning Commission.