Lok Sabha Question No. 1391 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-24
Subject: Performance of Brahmaputra Board
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1391 ANSWERED ON 24.11.2016

## PERFORMANCE OF BRAHMAPUTRA BOARD

## 1391.        SHRI SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL

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

(a) whether the Government has reviewed the performance of Brahmaputra Board during each of the last three years and the current year;

(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(c) the number of projects sanctioned and approved by Brahmaputra Board during the said period in Assam;

(d) the details of difficulties, if any, faced in the implementation of the said projects; and

(e) the remedial measures taken or proposed to be taken in this regard ?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Yes,  Madam,  The  performance  of  Brahmaputra  Board  is  reviewed  during  the meetings  of  the  Board  held  at  regular  intervals,  generally  twice  a  year.  The  performance  of Brahmaputra  Board  is  reflected  in  the  respective  Annual  Reports  which  are  approved  by  the Board during its meetings. Annual Reports are then placed before both the Houses of Parliament every year with the approval of Hon'ble Minister/ Minister of State, WR, RD & GR. Details of Board meetings held during last three years and the current year are  provided at Annexure-I . Details  of  laying  of  Annual  Reports  of  Brahmaputra  Board  in  both  Houses  of  Parliament  are provided at Annexure-II .

In addition to the above, the High Powered Review Board of Brahmaputra Board chaired by the Hon'ble Minister, WR, RD & GR has also reviewed the performance of Board during its meetings. The 7th Meeting of High Powered Review Board was held during the year 2014-15 on 11.2.2015  at  Shillong,  Meghalaya  and  the  8th  Meeting  was  held  during  the  year  2015-16  on 19.6.2015 at New Delhi.

The  performance  of  Brahmaputra  Board  was  also  appraised  by  the  Parliamentary Standing  Committee  on  Water  Resources  during  their  study  visits  to  Guwahati.  The  last  two visits were held as below:

(i) 2014-15 - during 31st January to 4th February, 2015

(ii) 2015-16 - during 5th to 9th October, 2015.

(c) The projects sanctioned and approved under Brahmaputra Board during each of the last three years and the current year are:

1. 2016-17 (Current year):

(i) Protection of Majuli Island from flood and erosion of Brahmaputra Phase-IV (A) for Rs. 124.12 crore approved in February 2016.

(ii) Pola Drainage Development Scheme technically approved for Rs. 21.05 Crore in October 2016.

2. 2015-16:

(i) Nelli Drainage Development Scheme technically approved forRs. 14.60 Crore.

3. 2014-15:

(i) Protection  of  Mankachar,  Kalair-Alga  International  Border  area  from  erosion  of  river Brahmaputra sanctioned for Rs. 23.79 crore in July 2014.

(ii) Protection  of  Maslabari  International  Border  Area  of  Dhubri  District  from  erosion  of River Brahmaputra sanctioned for Rs. 5.76 crore in September 2014.

(iii) Kalamonijan Drainage Development Scheme technically approved for Rs. 4.82 Crore.

4. 2013-14

(i) Jengrai  Drainage  Development  Scheme  sanctioned  for  Rs.  5.23  crore  (revised)  in December 2013.

(d) & (e) The difficulties faced in implementation of the projects and remedial measures are:

(a) Progress  of  construction  of  bank  revetment  hampered  due  to  ban  on  collection  of boulders by the Hon'ble Meghalaya High Court. To overcome the difficulties in construction of bank revetment, boulders are substituted by earth/silt filled Geo-bags.

(b) Progress of construction of retirement bund hampered due to problem of land acquisition. To overcome the difficulties, the matter was taken up with Government of Assam.

*****

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Unstarred Question No. 1391 due for answer in LokSabha reg. Performance of Brahmaputra Board

## Meeting of Brahmaputra Board held during last three year and current year

| Year    | Meeting No                                       | Meeting No             | Date      |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------|------------------------|-----------|
| 2013-14 | 56 th Meeting of Brahmaputra Agartala            | Board held at Tripura, | 5.6.2013  |
|         | 57 th Meeting of Brahmaputra Board Agartala      | held at Tripura,       | 5.6.2013  |
| 2014-15 | 58 th Meeting of Brahmaputra Board held Assam    | at Guwahati,           | 27.6.2014 |
| 2015-16 | 59 th Meeting of Brahmaputra Board held at Assam | Guwahati,              | 3.7.2015  |
|         | 60 th Meeting of Brahmaputra Board held at New   | Delhi                  | 3.3.2016  |
| 2016-17 | 61 st Meeting of Brahmaputra Board held at Assam | Guwahati,              | 22.8.2016 |

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Unstarred Question No. 1391 due for answer in Lok Sabha reg. Performance of Brahmaputra Board

Details of laying of Annual Reports of Brahmaputra Board in both houses of Parliament during last three years and current year

| Year    | Date of Laying in Lok Sabha   | Date of Laying in Rajya Sabha   |
|---------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2012-13 | 17.02.14                      | 11.02.14                        |
| 2013-14 | 26-02-15                      | 02.03.15                        |
| 2014-15 | 17.12.15                      | 21.12.15                        |