Question : Saraswati River Exploration

(a) whether any research has been conducted by Central Groundwater Board to trace the disappeared river Saraswati;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any proposal for budget provision for Sarawati River exploration Project is under consideration;

(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(e) whether the Government is contemplating budget provision for the above mentioned proposals/schemes keeping in view the water crisis for drinking/irrigation in Haryana and Rajasthan States;

(f) if so, the details thereof; and

(g) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA )

(a) to (g) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has not conducted any specific research to trace the disappeared river Saraswati. However, CGWB, as a part of its ongoing aquifer mapping and management programme has taken up site specific studies in parts of Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Studies carried out so far and earlier studies indicate presence of traces of palaeochannels in these states. Further, the Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR constituted an Expert Committee to Review available information on Palaeo-channels. The Expert Committee based on Remote Sensing, Geological, Hydrogeological and Archaeological evidences has concluded that a large Himalayan born river flowed through the wide channel of Ghaggar-Hakara-Nara from Himalayas to Rann of Kachh.

There is no proposal, under consideration in CGWB for budget provision for Saraswati river exploration project.