Lok Sabha Question No. 4106 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-10
Subject: Private Sector Participation in Water Resources Management
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 UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 4106 ANSWERED ON 10 .0 8.201 7

## PRIVATE SECTOR PARTI CIPATION IN WATER RE SOURCES MANAGEMENT

## 4106. SHRI RADHESHYAM BISWAS

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

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

(b) whether any feasibility study has been conducted by the Government regarding the costs of suc efforts and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Government is considering a special p lan for drought prone areas and if so, the details thereo

## ANSWER

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

## (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN )

(a) & (b) Water being a State subject, measures including management and distribution of water resour by the respective State Governments. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State G providing technical and financial assistance through various schemes / programmes.

State  Governments  are  empowered  to  make  regulations  on  water,  water  supplies,  irrigation drainage and embankments, water storage and water power. The State Governments take necessary steps management / distribution of water resources which, inter - alia, include inviting private investment in infra projects, such as water supply, sewerage, etc.

The National Water Policy, 2012, inter - alia,  stipulates that water resources projects and services should be managed with community participation. For improved service delivery on sustainable basis, the Stat urban local bodies may associate private sector in public private partnership mode. In this proc service standards would be subjected to regulatory control, with penalties for failure, as well as f democratically elected local bodies.

(c) Central Government has launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) during the year 20 15. Under Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana - Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefits  Programme  ( PMKSY - AIBP ),  99 ongoing projects have been identified in consultations with the States for completion in phases by Drought Prone Area Programme (DPA P) is given priority under PMKSY. Under PMKSY - AIBP, enhanced funding is provided in ratio of 60 (Centre): 40 (State) for projects under DPAP as compared to general area und - AIBP as per guidelines of the scheme.

The Central Government is taking up on priority the implementation of Interlinking of Rivers proje aims to transfer 170 billion cubic metre (BCM)  of water from surplus to deficit areas, create an a potential of approximately 35 million hectare, apart from the inc idental benefits of flood moderation, navigat drinking and industrial water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc.