Lok Sabha Question No. 6370 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-05
Subject: Norms for National Projects
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 6370

ANSWERED ON 05.0 4.201 8

## NORMS FOR NATIONAL P ROJECTS

## 6370. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

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

- (a)  the  norms/criterion  laid  down  for  selection  of  National  Projects  or  to  declare  a National Project;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  followed the  said  norms/criterion  in  declaring  the  Polavara Project as a National Project and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons ther
- (c) the details of the funds provided for construction activities of the said project so
- (d) whether the Government has received any requests from Odisha for addressing the i submergence of villages before giving go ahead signal to the said project and if so, thereof along with the action taken/being taken thereon; and
- (e)the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to address the issue of submerg villages in Odisha due to Polavaram Project?

## ANSWER

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

( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

- ( a) Some of the main criteria for selection of National Projects are as under:
1. International projects where usage of water in India is required by a treaty planning and early completion of the project is necessary in the int erest of the country.
2. Inter - State projects which are dragging on due to non - resolution of inter - S ate issues relating to sharing of costs, rehabilitation, aspects of power production etc. river interlinking projects.
3. Intra - State projects with additional potential of more than 2,00,000 hectares and wi no dispute regarding sharing of water and where hydrology is established.

( b) The Polavaramproject has been declared as National Project under section 90 (1) Andhra  Pradesh  Reorganisation  Act,  2014.As  per  the  95 th Technical  Advisory  Committee meeting held on 20.01.2009, the annual irrigation is 4.36 lakh ha, which is more th ha to qualify as national project.

( c) The project was funded under AIBP up to 31.3.2014 and an amount of Rs.562.47 crore released  for  this  project  under  AIBP.    Further,  after  the  project  was  declared  a Project,  Central  Assistance  of  Rs.5364.16  cro re  has  been  provided  for  this  project  after 1.4.2014.

( d) to (e)  Construction of Polavaram Project on Godavari River is in terms of the G Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award.

The Governments of Odisha and Chhattisgarh have filed Suits before the Hon'ble Supreme Court raising objections in respect of this project. So far, there is no order fro against construction of project.

An inter - State meeting in this regard was held on 02.06.2016.  The Governments of Od and  Chhattisgarh  expres sed  concerns  on  design  flood,  back  water  calculations,  etc. reported, the Government of Andhra Pradesh shared the relevant details with the Gover of Odisha and Chhattisgarh as required by them during the meeting.

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