Lok Sabha Question No. 215 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-16
Subject: Approval to Mega Irrigation Projects
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SUBHASH PATEL, RITI PATHAK

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*215

ANSWERED ON 16.03.2017

## APPROVAL TO MEGA IRRIGATION PROJECTS

| †*215.                                                                                                                                                                                             | SHRI SUBHASH PATEL SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:                                                                                                | Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:                                                                                                |
| (a) whether the Government proposes to simplify the process of according approval to mega irrigation projects;                                                                                     | (a) whether the Government proposes to simplify the process of according approval to mega irrigation projects;                                                                                     |
| (b) if so, the details thereof and the extent of simplifications made/proposed to be made with regard to approvals from the Central Water Commission and investment approvals from NITI Aayog; and | (b) if so, the details thereof and the extent of simplifications made/proposed to be made with regard to approvals from the Central Water Commission and investment approvals from NITI Aayog; and |
| (c) the details of improvements made after 2014 in the complex process of Central assistance under                                                                                                 | (c) the details of improvements made after 2014 in the complex process of Central assistance under                                                                                                 |
| Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for irrigation schemes?                                                                                                                            | Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for irrigation schemes?                                                                                                                            |
| ANSWER                                                                                                                                                                                             | ANSWER                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND REJUVENATION                                                                                                                                | GANGA                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| (SUSHRIUMA BHARTI)                                                                                                                                                                                 | (SUSHRIUMA BHARTI)                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| (a) to (c) A                                                                                                                                                                                       | statement is laid on the Table of the House.                                                                                                                                                       |

## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART s (a)  TO  (c)  OF  STARRED  QUESTION NO.  †*215  TO  BE    ANSWERED  ON  16.03.2017  IN  LOK  SABHA  REGARDING 'APPROVAL TO MEGA IRRIGATION PROJECTS' ASKED BYSHRI SUBHASH PATEL & SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

(a) & (b)The Guidelines for 'Submission, Appraisal and Clearance of Irrigation and Multipurpose Projects,  2010'  have  been  revised/simplified.  The  main  modifications  incorporated  in  the  2017 Guidelines are given at Annexure.

Further,  the  Government  has  approved  the  transfer  of  powers  for  according  Investment Clearance to major, medium irrigation, Extension, Renovation & Modernisation (ERM) of projects, Flood Control and Multi-purpose projects to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation.

(c) A  Mission  has  been  established  for  implementation  of  99  ongoing  irrigation  projects  under Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefits  Programme  (AIBP),  which  have  been  prioritized  in  consultation with  the  States  for  their  completion  in  phases  by  December,  2019.Improvements  made  in  the process for providing Central Assistance (CA) to these projects are given below:

i. No  separate  clearance/Advisory  Committee  clearance/Investment  Clearance  is  required  for funding  of  the  projects,  which  have  cost  escalation  of  upto  20%  on  approved  cost  (AIBP component) as on 01.04.2012.

ii. Fast  track  proforma  clearance  from  Central  Water  Commission  (CWC)  is  sufficient  for projects  where  revised  cost  may  be  more  than  the  20%  over  and  above  approved  cost  as  on 01.04.2012 and no separate investment clearance from MOWR, RD & GR is required.

iii. The proposal of release of CA on the basis of joint proposal prepared by State Government and CWC has been approved.  Further, funding arrangement for both CA and State share through NABARD has been approved.

*****

## Annexure as mentioned in the parts (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. †*215 regarding 'Approval of Mega Irrigation Projects' due for reply on 16.03.2017

## Main modifications incorporated in these Guidelines

- Detailed Project Report (DPR) submission and appraisal process to be done through webenabled e-PAMS system to reduce postal and communication delays.
- DPR preparation by the Project Authority has to be undertaken in a consultative mode with CWC to reduce deficiencies in the DPR before its submission to CWC.
- Project  Authorities  will  get  aspects  pertaining  to  CSMRS/MoA&FW/CGWB  examined from  them  before  submitting  the  DPR  to  CWC  leading  to  fast  track  examination  of  the DPR.
- The time line for completion of examination / appraisal process has been fixed.
- In case the statutory clearances / concurrences such as Environment, Forest clearances from MoEF & CC, clearance of R&R plan of tribal population from MoTA, the State Finance Concurrence  (SFC)  etc.,  are  pending,  the  Advisory  Committee  may  accord  conditional acceptance to the project.