Lok Sabha Question No. 2621 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-01
Subject: Encroachments of Water Bodies
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2621

## ANSWERED ON 01.12.2016

## ENCROACHMENTS OF WATER BODIES

## 2621.           DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  many  water  bodies  in  the  country  have  been encroached upon and filled up by land mafias for building houses, if so, the details thereof, Statewise;

(b) whether certain Committees  including Parliamentary  Standing  Committee  on  Water Resources  has  expressed  deep  concerns  on  the  pathetic  state  of  water  bodies  in  the  country including National Capital Territory of Delhi, if so, the details and the facts thereof;

(c)  whether  lack  of  existing  laws  and  poor  maintenance  of  land  records  is  resulting  in  such encroachments; and

(d)  if  so,  the  action  plan  of  the  Government  to  check  the  said  encroachments  and  save  water bodies in the country?

## ANSWER

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

## (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a)  to  (d)  Works  related  to  water  resources  development  &  management  are  planned,  funded, executed and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities.  In  order  to  supplement  the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments,  Government  of  India provides  technical  and  financial  assistance  to  State  Governments  to  encourage  sustainable development  and  efficient  management  of  water  resources  through  various  schemes  and programmes such as scheme for Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of water bodies etc. Matter  related  to  encroachment  on  water  bodies  comes  under  purview  of  the  concerned  State Govts.

Ministry  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation  conducts  minor irrigation census. As per the 4 th Minor Irrigation Census, about 80128 water bodies are not in use because of encroachments, urbanization, polluted water, non availability of water due to less and erratic rainfall, siltation, etc.

In this context, it is to mention that water bodies included under RRR of water bodies schemes are encroachment free. However, considering the importance of water bodies for socio economic development and sustainable water security to the local population, Secretary (MoWR, RD & GR)  vide  letter  dated  26.02.2016  requested  State  Governments  to  take  necessary  steps  for keeping all the water bodies encroachment free throughout the country. Further, Secretary (WR, RD & GR) vide letter  dated  07.11.2016  requested  the  State  Governments  to  take  appropriate action  in  respect  of  inclusion  of  water  bodies  in  land  records,  inclusion  of  water  bodies  as integral part of town planning process, strict action for the encroachers, etc.

Standing  Committee  on  Water  Resources,  in  its  10 th report  on  'Repair,  Renovation  and Restoration of Water Bodies- Encroachment on Water Bodies And Steps Required to Remove the  Encroachment  and  Restore  the  Water  Bodies',  has  raised  the  concern  on  the  issue  of encroachment on water bodies besides other issues. The Committee also recommended for issue of  model  directives/guidelines  on  encroachment  aspect  based  on  the  directions  of  Hon'ble Supreme  Court  and  High  Courts  in  the  country.    In  this  context,  'Draft  Guidelines  for Conservation  and  Protection  of  Water  Bodies'  have  been  prepared  and  circulated  to  the concerned Central Ministries and State/UTs.

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