Lok Sabha Question No. 4585 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-22
Subject: Financing of Irrigation and Interlinking of Rivers Project
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 4585

ANSWERED ON 22.0 3.201 8

## FINANCING OF IRRIGAT ION AND INTERLINKING OF RIVERS PROJECT

4585.

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

Will  the  Minister  of  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND  GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether many parts of the country are facing acute problems of water which can be solved by diverting water from water surplus basins by inter - linking of rivers and by checking the wastage of water that flows out to the seas and the country needs nearly Rs. 3 - 5 l kh crore as investment for irrigation and river inter -l kin g projects and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has sought the help of multilateral institutions for financin and river interlinking projects and if so, the response of the multilateral institutions (c) whe ther the Government is considering to bring in innovative financing models for fi irrigation and river inter -l king projects and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to streamline the procedures?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES, RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) It has been observed that there is a progressive reduction in per capita availabili the country on acco unt of increase in population.  As per year 2001 census, the average annu capita availability of water in the country was 1816 m3/year, which has reduced to 1545 as per 2011 census. Further, projections for the year 2025 and 2050 are 1340 m3/ year & 1140 m3/year respectively.

The National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared by the then Ministry of Irrigatio Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR) in August 1980 for water resources development th rough inter basin transfer of water, for transferr water  from  water  surplus  basins  to  water - deficit  basins.  Under  the  NPP,  the  National  Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links ( 16 under Peninsular Component & 14

under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs). Pre - Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of the all 30 links have been prepared and circulated to the concerned State Gove After survey and investigations, FRs of 14 links under Peninsular Component and FRs of 2 links and draft FRs of 7 links (Indian portion) under Himalayan Component have been completed.

The total expenditure on Inter Linking of Rivers (ILR) programme was estimated Rs.5.6 lakh crores (2002 - 03  price  level) based on N WDA studies. National Council of Applied Economic Research has estimated that the cost of ILR project to be Rs.4.44 lakh crore - 04 price level). The exact requirement on realistic basis can be known only after the pre Detailed Project Repor ts of all the links.

(b)  to  (d) During  2016 - 17,  ninety  nine  (99)  ongoing  Major/Medium  Irrigation  Projects  und Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) having ultimate irrigation potential lakh  ha.,  have  been  prioritized  in  consultation  w ith  States  along  with  their  Command  Area Development  &  Water  Management  (CADWM)  works.  For  completion  of  these  projects  in  a mission  mode,  funding  mechanism  under  Long  Term  Irrigation  Fund  (LTIF)  through  Nation Bank For Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has been approved by the Government for both Central and State share. Funding  from LTIF has also been extended to Polavaram Project in Andhra Pradesh and North Koel Project in Jharkhand.  Different  State Govt. are also external assista nce from institution like Work Bank, JICA, ADB etc for irrigation projects.

Funds provided under LTIF to these 99 projects and Polavaram Project is as under:

| Year     |   Funds released |
|----------|------------------|
| 2016- 17 |          9086.02 |
| 2017- 18 |          8316.12 |

Further,  a  Group  for  Financial  Aspects under TF - ILR  was  constituted  on  12.09.2017  to consider the financial aspects of ILR projects and to suggest the funding pattern for im the same. Six meetings of the Group have been held so far, and the last meeting was 27.02.2018.  The Gr oup on Financial Aspects is considering innovative financing for inter - linking of rivers including external funding.

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