Lok Sabha Question No. 844 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-06
Subject: Inter-linking of Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Mukesh Rajput

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.

## †844 ANSWERED ON 06.02.2020

## INTER - LINKING OF RIVERS

## †844. SHRI MUKESH RAJPUT

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI  be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to inter - link the rivers;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is committed to clean the rivers merging with river Ganga; and (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the river Ganga is likely to be cleaned?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) & (b) The  National  Perspective  Plan  (NPP)  was  prepared  by  the  then  Ministry  of  Irriga Ministry of Jal Shakti) in August 1980 for water resources development through inter basi water, for transferring water from water surplus basins to water - deficit basins. Under the NPP, the Nation Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs).

Under the NPP, four priority links h ave been identified for preparation of Detailed Project (DPR) under the Peninsular Rivers Component viz; Ken - Betwa link project (KBLP), Damanganga - Pinjal link  project,  Par - Tapi - Narmada  link  project  and  Godavari - C uvery  link  project.  The  DPRs  of  KBL P, Damanganga - Pinjal link project and Par - Tapi - Narmada link project have been sent to the concerned St Draft DPR of Godavari - Cauvery link project consisting of three links viz; Go (Inchampalli/Janampet) -Krishna  (Nagarjunasagar),  Krishna  (Nagar junasagar) -Pennar  (Somasila), Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link projects has been completed and circulated to pa in March 2019.

The  implementation  of  river  link  projects  involves  various  steps  such  as  prepara Feasibility  Reports/  Feasibility  Reports  of  links,  negotiation  and  consensus  among  conc preparation of DPRs of the projects, clearances from Ministry of Environment and Forests Change,  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs,  techno -economic  clear ance  by  Advisory  Committee  on  Irrigation, Flood control & multipurpose projects of Ministry of Jal Shakti and investment clearance.

The  stage  of  implementation  of  a  project  would  be  reached  after  its  DPR  is  prepare consensus of concerned States and the requisite statutory clearances are obtained.

(c) & (d) Cleaning of rivers is a continuous process and  Government of India is supplementing of the State Governments in addressing the challenges of pollutio n of river Ganga and its tributaries providing financial and technical assistance.  In May 2015, Government of India launched Nam Programme which is an integrated umbrella programme to ensure effective abatement of poll conservation  of river  Ganga  by  adopting  a  river  basin  approach  for  comprehensive  planni management.  Under  Namami  Gange  Programme,  diverse  set  of  interventions  like  pollution  ab activities including sewage, industrial effluent, Solid Waste etc., River Front M anagement, Aviral Dhara, Rural Sanitation, Afforestation, Biodiversity Conservation, Public Participation etc, have b cleaning and rejuvenation of river Ganga.

As  far  as  small  rivers/tributaries  are  concerned,  based  upon  the  pollution  pri ority  and  need  of pollution abatement, 39 projects have been taken up in 27 tributary towns located along r Kali, Ramganga, Saryu, Gomti, Damodar, Banka, Rispana, Kharkai, Kosi and Burhi Gandak to mak pollution free.

So far, Under Namami Gange programme, till December 2019, a total of 310 projects have sanctioned, out of which 114 projects have been completed.

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