Lok Sabha Question No. 1317 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-09
Subject: Erosion by Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1317

ANSWERED ON 09.02.2017

## EROSION BY RIVERS

## 1317.        SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR

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

(a)  whether the Government is aware about the miseries faced by the people due to river erosion in the country including West Bengal, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has consulted the State to identify the areas of specific and most immediate concern and intends to initiate a joint effort in resolving the issue, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is aware of certain reports citing large scale erosion and loss of fertile land affecting several villages in the State including Malda region, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; and

(d) whether any special funds have been allocated to carry out disbursal of compensation to the villagers, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE    MINISTER    OF    STATE  FOR  WATER    RESOURCES,    RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b)  Yes, Madam. Erosion and deposition of silt is a dynamic and natural process in alluvial rivers. Rivers carry, pick up and drop silt load as per their regime conditions i.e. discharge in  the river, river slope, morphology, nature of silt etc.  The National Water Policy (2012),  formulated by  this  Ministry has,  inter-alia,  recommended that in  order to  prevent  loss  of  land  eroded  by  river  which causes permanent loss, revetments, spurs, embankments etc, should  be planned, executed, monitored and maintained on the basis of morphological studies.

The schemes for anti-erosion works etc. are formulated and implemented by  the concerned  States as  per  their  priority.  The  Union  Government  supports  the efforts  of the States  by providing  technical advice and also promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical areas.

The  Government  of  India  had  launched  Flood  Management  Programme  (FMP) for  providing central  assistance  to  States  for  works  related  to  river  management,  flood      control,      anti-erosion, drainage development,  anti-sea  erosion, flood  proofing  works,  restoration  of  damage flood management works  etc.  A  total central  assistance  of  Rs  4873.07  crore  has  been  released  to  various States  under    FMP    which    includes    Rs.    802.01    crore    to State    of    West    Bengal.    The  Central Government engages with the State Governments, as required.

(c)  Farakka  Barrage Project  (FBP) authority has  been  mandated  for  taking    up  anti-erosion/bank protection  works  on  river  Ganga      in  West  Bengal  region in  a  total  length    of  120  km    (40  km upstream  and  80  km  downstream  of  FBP)   to ensure  safety  of  "Farakka  Barrage  Project".  During the  current  five  year  plan,  FBP  authority  has  executed  anti-erosion/  bank  protection  works  on  river Ganga  amounting  to  Rs.  131.00  crore,  particularly  in  Maida  and  Murshidabad  Districts  which  has provided reasonable degree of protection from floods and erosion.

A  proposal  on  "Bank  protection  works  on  the  left  bank  of  river  Ganga  at  village Janjalitola under    Mauja    Gadai Maharajpur   in  block  Tatua-IPS-  Ratua,    District  Maida  has  been  received  in Ganga Flood Control Commission..

(d)  No, Madam.

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