Lok Sabha Question No. 3846 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-03
Subject: Studies on Inter-linking of Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: FEROZE VARUN GANDHI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 3846

ANSWERED ON 03.01 .201 9

## STUDIES ON INTER - LINKING OF RIVERS

## 3846. SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  or  plans  to  conduct  any  social  and  environment assessment studies to investigate the cost benefit of inter - linking  of  river  project s and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is planning to introduce region - specific irrigation projects across the co especially in drought prone and arid areas; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) At  the  time  of  preparation  of  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  of  individual  inter - linking  of  river projects, detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies as per Terms of Reference appro Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) of Ministry of Environment and Forests & Climate Cha carried  out.  The  environmental  impacts  and  issues  arising  out  of  the  EIA studies  are  addressed  in Environmental Management Plan which forms a part of DPR.

Socio - economic  impact  assessment  including  Resettlement  and  Rehabilitation  (R&R)  P respect of project affected persons is an integral part of implementation of any li nk project and is included in the DPR.

The  Benefit -Cost  analysis  of  each  link  is  carried  out  as  per  the  'Guidelines  for  preparation  of Detailed Project Report of Irrigation & Multipurpose projects' and is included in the DPR.

(b)  &  (c) Water  Resources  Projects  are  planned,  funded,  executed  and  maintained  by  th Governments  themselves  as  per  their  own  resources  and  priority.  In  order  to  supplement  t Government  of  India  provides  technical  and  financial  assistance  to  Stat e  Governments  to  encourage sustainable  development  and  efficient  management  of  water  resources  through  various  sch programmes such as Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), Surface Minor Irrigat etc. under Pradhan Mantri Krishi S nchayee Yojana (PMKSY). Ninety - nine (99) on -going Major/Medium Irrigation  (MMI)  projects  under  PMKSY - AIBP  have  been  prioritized  in  consultation  with  States completion  in  phases  up  to  December,  2019  along  with  their  Command  Area  Development  & M anagement  (CADWM)  works.  Funding  mechanism  through  NABARD  has  been  approved  by  the Government for both Central and State share. Drought Prone areas are given priority under PM 59  projects  benefitting  drought  prone  areas  in  11  States  are  part  of  t he  99  prioritized  PMKSY - AIBP projects. Further, special packag e of Rs. 3831.41 crore as central assistance to complete 83 SMI pr and 8 MMI projects in Vidarbha, Marathwada and other drought prone areas of Maharashtra approved by the Government in July, 2018.

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