Lok Sabha Question No. 3520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-23
Subject: Private Sector Participation in Management of Water Resources
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: RADHESHYAM BISWAS

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3520

ANSWERED ON 23.03.2017

## PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES

## 3520.       SHRI RADHESHYAM BISWAS

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

(a) whether the Government  is  considering participation of private sector in planning, development and management of water resources projects in the country and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether the Government is considering a special plan for drought prone areas and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(DR. SANJEEV BALYAN)

(a) Water  is  a  State  subject.  Water  Resources  Projects  are  planned,  funded,  executed  and maintained  by  the  State  Governments  themselves  as  per  their  own  resources  and  priority.  In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, MoWR, RD & GR provides financial assistance  to  the  State  Governments  to  encourage  sustainable  development  and  efficient management of water resources through various schemes such as Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) etc. under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). The National Water Policy 2012, inter-alia recommends that water resources projects and services should be managed with community participation. For improved service delivery on sustainable basis, the State Governments / urban local bodies may associate private sector in public private partnership mode with penalties for failure, under regulatory control on prices charged and service standards with full accountability to democratically elected local bodies.

(b) Ministry of Water Resources, River Development  and Ganga  Rejuvenation had constituted technical teams comprising officers of Central Water Commission, Central Ground Water Board for on the spot study of water situation in drought affected areas during 2016.

Earlier also, this Ministry decided to prepare a vulnerability map and remedial measure for  optimum availability of water of the  Bundelkhand region  for which  a team of the Central Government was constituted to visit the Bundelkhand region and to prepare a vulnerability map.

The  Technical  Teams  have  suggested  various  long/short  term  measures  based  on  the region/area/states  specific  to  mitigate  water  scarcity  situation  including  Andhra  Pradesh  and Telangana. Construction of water harvesting structures, mass awareness among citizens for water conservation, construction of new water storage structures, interlinking of rivers, renovation and repair of existing water bodies are commonly recommended, which were communicated to State Government  for  implementation.  Further,  the  Ministry  has  initiated  following  short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to mitigate drought and drought like situation: -

1. Ministry/CWC monitors water level of 91 major reservoirs and issues weekly bulletin of water storage position and issue advisory through CWC for prudent use of water in case of deficient rainfall predicted by IMD.

2. A Committee under the Chairmanship of Water Resources Minister (Chhattisgarh) was constituted  to  look  into  the  issues  related  to  implementation  of  PMKSY.  The  committee  in consultation with States identified ninety nine (99) ongoing projects under AIBP having potential of  76.03  lakh  ha.  for  completion  in  phases  up  to  December,  2019.  For  completion  of  these projects  in  a  mission  mode,  innovative  funding  mechanism  through  NABARD  has  been approved by the Government. Further, a Mission has also been established for implementation of these 99 projects.

3. The Ministry has also formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) envisaging interbasin  transfer  of  water  consisting  of  two  components-  Himalayan  rivers  component  (14  links) and Peninsula rivers component (16 links), which is likely to add another 35 million hectares of irrigation  potential,  34000  MW  hydro  power,  flood  moderation,  navigation,  drinking  and industrial water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc.

4.  Jal  Kranti  Abhiyan  (2015-16  to  2017-18)  has  been  launched  in  order  to  consolidate water conservation and management in the country through a holistic and integrated approach involving all stakeholders, making it a mass movement.

5.  The  Ministry  had  prepared  a  conceptual  'Master  Plan  for  Artificial  Recharge  to Ground  Water  in  India  in  the  year  2013'  and  circulated  to  all  State  Governments  for implementation. The plan envisages construction of 1.11 crore rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge  structures  in  the  country  to  harness  85  BCM  of  water  to  enhance  the  availability  of ground water for various purposes.

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