Lok Sabha Question No. 435 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-19
Subject: Development of Kuttanad Wetland Eco-system
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL, K. C. VENUGOPAL

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 435 ANSWERED ON 19.0 7.201 8

## DEVELOPMENT OF KUTTA NAD WETLAND ECO - SYSTEM

## 435. SHRI KODIKUNN IL SURESH

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  agreed  to  grant  financial  assistance  for  the  implement various programmes/ interventions suggested by Dr. M.S. Swam inathan Research Foundation for development of Kuttanad Wetland Ecosystem in Kerala and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  issued  the  investment  clearance  for  the  said  project modernization  of  Thanneermukkom  Barrage  which is  critical  for  the  mitigation  of  floods Kuttanad region and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether Kerala has submitted any proposals for financial assistance and investment for the project and if so, the details thereof and the action tak en thereon; and
- (d) whether there has been a delay in implementation of various works associated with th and  the  funds  are  remaining  underutilized  and  if  so,  the  reasons  therefor  including released/utilized along with the current status of the project?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES, RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

- (a) The works for development of Kuttanad wetland eco - system in Kerala are being funded and implemented through the following Ministries of Government of India, namely,
- i . Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation
- ii . Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
- iii . Ministry of Enviro nment & Forest and Climate Change

Through Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR & CWC, the following schemes are being implemented in the Kuttanad region and funded under Flood Management Programme (FMP)

- i . KEL - 1-Mitigation of Flood in Group -I (Padasekhar ms) in Kuttanad region
- ii . KEL - 2-Regulation of flood water in Kayal area, 4 padesekharams and Mitigation of flo group 9, 5 nos. Padasekharams in Kuttanad region

- iii .KEL - 3- Mitigation  of  floods  in  Kuttanad region -Phase - I  (group  2 - 5,  7,  8,  10 - 19),  231 padasekharams (paddy fields)
- iv . KEL - 4- Mitigation  of  floods  in  Onattukara  region  comprising  of  12  watersheds  in  K state
- (b) Government  of  India  has  accorded  investment  clearance  for  the  following  project s  as below:
1. KEL- 1- FMP - Mitigation of Flood - Group- I (14 Padasekarams) in Kuttanad Region on 05.05.2010
2. KEL- 2-FMP -Regulation of flood waters in Kayal area, 4 padasekarams & Mitigation o floods in Group - 9, 5 padasekarams in Kuttanad  on 30.07.2010 .
3. KEL- 3- FMP -Mitigation of Floods in Kuttanad region, Phase -I (Group 2 - 5, 7, 8, 10 - 19) 231 padasekharams (Paddy fields)  on 30.05.2011.
4. KEL- 4-FMP -Mitigation of Floods in Onattukkara Region comprising of 12 water sheds under Kuttanad package on 09. 11.2011.
5. Modernisation of Thanneermukkom Barrage on 09.03.2017.

(c)& (d) Government  of Kerala is implementing the four projects in KEL - 1, KEL- 2, KEL- 3, and KEL-4 in the Kuttanad region with central assistance under FMP.

The projects are being implemented with extension of time. The reasons put fort project authorities for delay in completion are:

1. The padasekharams (fields) are below mean sea level and in most of the padasekhara cultivation is carried out in 2 crop seasons. Due to monsoon, flooding and water logging, the available working season has been restricted to less than 6 months. During cro season, farmers are not willing to hand over the site of the motor thara and pothu the  Department  as  the  ex isting  ones  are  under  operation  for  dewatering.  Hence,  the construction  period  for  erecting  permanent  structures  like  motor  thara  and pothumada is further limited to just 2 months in a year.
2. For  majority  of  the  padasekharams,  the  materials  for  the construction  such  as  rubble, aggregates, cement etc. have to be transported through the net work of channels country  boats.  These  channels  are  filled  with  water  hyacinth,  thereby  affectin movement of country boats which in turn is affecting the an cipat d progress.
3. The  materials  required  for  the  construction  have  to  be  collected  first  at  near landing places from where it has to be loaded on to country boats.
4. Large  scale  stacking  of  construction  materials  over  the  slender  bunds  are  prac ically impossible during croping seasons as these space are used as foot path by farmers. the construction of pothumada and such other CD works during the croping season difficult as they are needed to regulate water.
5. Since  the  Random  Rubble  masonr y  work  is  to  be  carried  out  in  submerged  site conditions, the availability of labour is much less than anticipated. The scarcit power is also an hurdle.
6. As and when ban is imposed on quarries, scarcity of rubble is experienced.

Govt of Kerala has been submitting proposals for financial assistance for the above f schemes namely    KEL -1, KEL- 2, KEL- 3 and KEL- 4 and central assistance are being released accordingly . The details of Central Assistance (CA) released, time extension, fund utilisat nd current status are enclosed as Annexure - I.

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ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  &  (d)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 435 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 19.07.2018 REGARDING ' DEVELOPMENT OF KUTTANAD WETLAND ECO - SYSTEM '

|   Sl No. | Name of the Scheme   |   Total Estimated cost of project (Rs in Cr) | Scheduled completion time   | First extension of time granted   | Subsequent extension time requested State   |   of by Total CA Released Up to Mar-18 (Rs in Cr) | Fund Utilisation Status                                                 | Current Status of the Project   |
|----------|----------------------|----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|        1 | KEL - 1              |                                       24.7   | 31/3/12                     | 31/3/15                           | 31/3/18                                     |                                           11.197  | Govt of Kerala submitted Utilisation certificate for Exp up to Mar - 18 | Project completed               |
|        2 | K EL - 2             |                                      118.913 | 31/3/12                     | 31/3/15                           | 31/3/18                                     |                                           65.864  | - do-                                                                   | Project completed               |
|        3 | K EL - 3             |                                      106.13  | 31/3/13                     | 31/12/16                          | 31/3/19                                     |                                           49.6364 | - do-                                                                   | Ongoing                         |
|        4 | KEL - 4              |                                       70     | 31/3/13                     | 31/12/16                          | 31/3/19                                     |                                           11.25   | - do-                                                                   | Ongoing                         |