Question : CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS AND RESERVOIRS

(a) whether some State Governments are going ahead in construction of dams and reservoirs in their States without getting clearance form the Central Water Commission (CWC) despite opposition from certain areas of the concerned States;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government of Andhra Pradesh have been constructing the Polavaram Project as well as Katragada flood flow canal in Vamsadhara Inter-State River without clearance from CWC and without concurrence of Orissa; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the specific action taken by the Union Government to resolve the matter?

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (PROF. SAIF-UD-DIN SOZ)

(a) & (b) As on 1.4.2006, there are 65 major and 100 medium unapproved irrigation/multipurpose projects as ongoing in the Tenth Five Year Plan taken up by the State Governments as detailed in the Statement at Annexure-I.

(c) & (d) The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has not reported the status of construction of Indira Sagar (Polavaram) project. The State of Orissa in February, 2006 through complaint under the provisions of inter-state River Water Disputes Act 1956 brought to the notice of Central Government that State of Andhra Pradesh is under taking construction Flood Flow Canal taking off from right bank of the Vamsadhara river at Katragada. In an inter-State meeting convened by the Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources on 24th April, 2006 with the Secretaris of Irrigation/Water Resources Department of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, the State of Andhra Pradesh informed that no construction work is being done by it on the river bed, river bank and between Singidi reservoir and Katragada on Flood Flow Canal and works are only being carried out downstream of Singidi reservoir. The centre is facilitating to resolve the inter-State issues involved in these projects through inter-State meetings.