Lok Sabha Question No. 1730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-20
Subject: Inter-linking of Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNPURIA

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. †1730

ANSWERED ON 20.12 .201 8

## INTER - LINKING OF RIVERS

## †1730. SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA

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

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

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the ongoing projects in this regard including t rivers rejuvenated as on date, State - wise;

(c) the quantum of funds allocated for the purpose during the last three years and the cu date, State/ river -wise;

(d) whether the Government proposes to enact a law to check the illegal construction on banks, indiscriminate ground water exploitation and for water conservation; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a)  &  (b)    The  Government  has  taken  up  the  implementation  of  the Inter - linking  of  River (ILR) projects  on  a  consultative  manner.  The  National  Perspective  Plan  (NPP)  was  prepared Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuven (MoWR, RD & GR)) in August 1980 for transferring water from w ater surplus basins to water - deficit basins. Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) identified 30 links under  Peninsular  Component  &  14  under  Himalayan  Component)  for  preparation  of  Feasibi Reports  (FRs).  The  names  of  Inter  Bas in  Water  Transfer  Links,  names  of  rivers  and  the  Stat concerned are given in Annexure .

Under NPP four priority links have been identified for preparation of Detailed Proje (DPR) under the Peninsular Rivers Component viz; Ken - Betwa link project (KBLP) Phase -I & II, Damanganga - Pinjal link project, Par - Tapi - Narmada link project and Godavari - C uvery link project. The preparation of DPR of a project is taken up only after consent of concerned State Gov Based on the concurrence of the conce rned States, DPRs of KBLP Phase -I & Phase -II, Damanganga -Pinjal link project and Par - Tapi - Narmada  link  project  have  been  completed. The techno - economic clearance and various statutory clearances of the KBLP Phase -I have been accorded except clearance from Central   Empowered  Committee  (CEC)  of   the  Supreme  Court.   Based   on   the of Government of Madhya Pradesh, Lower Orr dam, Bina complex and Kotha barrage projects h been included  in  KBLP  Phase -II. The DPR of these projects have b een completed by NWDA/ Government of Madhya Pradesh.The Environmental Clearanceand Forest Land Diversion

Clearances for Lower Orr dam have been recommended by Expert Appraisal Committee and For Advisory  Committee  of Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC) respectively. Clearance for Resettlement and Rehabilitation plan of Project Affected Famil been accorded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) subject to certain conditions. Envir tal clearance and Stage -I&II clearances for Bina complex projects have been accorded by MoEF&CC The draft Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for implementation of Ken - Betwa  Link  Project  has been sent to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for concurrence.

The  t echno- economic  clearance  of  the  Damanganga - Pinjal  link  project  has  also  been accorded,  subject  to  statutory  clearances.  The  DPR  of  Par - Tapi - Narmada  link  project  has  been completed by NWDA. The combined draft MoA for implementation of Damanganga - Pinjal and Par Tapi - Narmada Link (including the four intra - sta e link projects of Maharashtra State) has been sen Maharashtra and Gujarat State Governments for concurrence.

(c)  An enabling allocation of Rs.100 lakhs for ILR programme has been made in the budget of each of the last three years including current year. As the ILR projects are not at implemen hence, no expenditure has been incurred on implementation of the ILR projects so far.

(d) & (e)  Flood - plain  zoning is a concept central to flood plain management. Flood - plain  zoning measures aim at demarcating zones or areas likely to be affected by floods of different ma frequencies and probability levels, and specify the types of permissible developments in so that whenev r floods actually occur, the damage can be minimized, if not avoided.

A model draft bill for flood plain zoning legislation was circulated by the Union G in 1975 to all the States, however, only States of Manipur, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand had nacted the legislation. The bill aims at no hindrance to natural flow of river and mitigation of lik floods. This Ministry has repeatedly impressed upon the State/ UT Governments in this rega

Moreover, the Ministry of Water Resources, Rive r Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has circulated a Model Bill (2005) to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable g legislation for regulation of its development, which includes provision of rain water ha far, 15 States/ UT  have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation on the lines of Bill.

Further, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section of  the  'Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986'  for  the  purpose  of  regulation  and control  of  ground water development and management in the Country. So far, CGWA has notified 162 areas i country where ground water withdrawal through new abstraction structures is not permitte for drinking and domestic uses. CGWA has also i ssued advisories to the State Governments and UTs from  time  to  time  regarding  water  conservation  and  water  harvesting.  Industries/infr units/mining projects in 23 States/UTs require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from CG ground  water  extr action,  which  is  granted  with  mandatory  conditions  aimed  at  ground  w augmentation  and  prevention  of  its  contamination.  Regulatory  measures  are  being  imple through State Ground Water Authorities or through Government Orders in the remaining State /UTs.

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO IN  REPLY  TO  PART  ( a)  &  ( b)  OF  UNSTARRED  QUEST ION  NO. † 1730  TO  BE  ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  20.1 2.2018  REGARDING  'IN TER - LINKING  OF RIVERS'.

## Names of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links, the States involved, name of rivers and status of Feasibili Reports/Detailed Project Report

| Sl. No               | Name                                                   | Rivers                       | States concerned                                                                                   | Status of PFR/FR/DPR          |
|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Peninsular Component | Peninsular Component                                   | Peninsular Component         | Peninsular Component                                                                               | Peninsular Component          |
| 1                    | Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link   | Mahanadi & Godavari          | Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh                                      | FR Completed                  |
| 2                    | Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Pulichintala)        | link Godavari & Krishna      | - do-                                                                                              | FR Completed                  |
| 3                    | Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link | Godavari & Krishna           | Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Chattisgarh,                      | FR Completed                  |
| 4                    | Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada)            | link Godavari & Krishna      | Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh                                      | FR Completed                  |
| 5                    | Krishna (Almatti) - Pennar link                        | Krishna & Pennar             | - do-                                                                                              | FR Completed                  |
| 6                    | Krishna (Srisailam) - Pennar link                      | Krishna & Pennar             | - do-                                                                                              | FR Completed                  |
| 7                    | Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila ) link     | Krishna & Pennar             | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh& Karnataka,                                                            | FR Completed                  |
| 8                    | Pennar (Somasila ) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link       | Pennar & Cauvery             | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry                                         | FR Completed                  |
| 9                    | Cauvery (Kattalai) -Vaigai - Gundar link               | Cauvery, Vaigai & Gundar     | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry                                                         | FR Completed                  |
| 10                   | Ken -Betwa link                                        | Ken & Betwa                  | Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh                                                                     | FR & DPR (Ph- I&II) Completed |
| 11                   | Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link                     | Parbati, Kalisindh & Chambal | Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh (UP requested to be consulted during consensus building) | FR Completed                  |
| 12                   | Par - Tapi - Narmada link                              | Par, Tapi & Narmada          | Maharashtra & Gujarat                                                                              | FR & DPR Completed            |
| 13                   | Damanganga -Pinjal link                                | Damanganga & Pinjal          | Maharashtra & Gujarat                                                                              | FR & DPR Completed            |
| 14                   | Bedti-Varda link                                       | Bedti & Varda                | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka                                                            | PFR Completed                 |
| 15                   | Netravati - Hemavati link                              | Netravati & Hemavati         | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala                                                                     | PFR Completed                 |
| 16                   | Pamba -Achankovil- Vaippar link                        | Pamba, Achankovil & Vaippar  | Kerala & Tamil Nadu,                                                                               | FR Completed                  |

| Sl. No              | Name                                                       | Rivers                         | States concerned                                              | Status of PFR/FR/DPR                   |
|---------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Himalayan Component | Himalayan Component                                        | Himalayan Component            | Himalayan Component                                           | Himalayan Component                    |
| 1.                  | Manas - Sankosh- Tista - Ganga (M-S- T-G) link             | Manas - Sankosh- Tista - Ganga | Assam, West Bengal, Bihar& Bhutan                             | PFR completed                          |
| 2.                  | Kosi- Ghaghra link                                         | Kosi & Ghaghra                 | Bihar , Uttar Pradesh & Nepal                                 | PFR completed                          |
| 3.                  | Gandak-Ganga link                                          | Gandak & Ganga                 | - do-                                                         | Draft FR completed (Indian portion)    |
| 4.                  | Ghaghra- Yamuna link                                       | Ghaghra & Yamuna               | - do-                                                         | FR completed (Indian portion)          |
| 5.                  | Sarda - Yamuna link                                        | Sarda & Yamuna                 | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand & Nepal | FR completed (Indian portion)          |
| 6.                  | Yamuna - Rajasthan link                                    | Yamuna & Sukri                 | Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana & Rajasthan                   | Draft FR completed                     |
| 7.                  | Rajasthan - Sabarmati link                                 | Sabarmati                      | - do-                                                         | Draft FR completed                     |
| 8.                  | Chunar- Sone Barrage link                                  | Ganga & Sone                   | Bihar & Uttar Pradesh                                         | Draft FR completed                     |
| 9.                  | Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Ganga                   | link Sone & Badua              | Bihar & Jharkhand                                             | PFR completed                          |
| 10.                 | Ganga(Farakka) - Damodar - Subernarekha link               | Ganga, Damodar & Subernarekha  | West Bengal, Odisha & Jharkhand                               | Draft FR completed                     |
| 11.                 | Subernarekha - Mahanadi link                               | Subernarekha & Mahanadi        | West Bengal & Odisha                                          | Draft FR Completed                     |
| 12.                 | Kosi- Mechi link                                           | Kosi &Mechi                    | Bihar , West Bengal & Nepal                                   | PFR completed Entirely lies in Nepal   |
| 13.                 | Ganga (Farakka) - Sunderbans link                          | Ganga & Ichhamati              | West Bengal                                                   | DraftFR completed                      |
| 14.                 | Jogighopa -Tista - Farakka link (Alternative to M - S-T-G) | Manas, Tista Ganga             | - do-                                                         | (Alternative to - S-T- G Link) dropped |

- PFR -Pre  Feasibility Report
- FR -Feasibility Report
- DPR -Detailed Project Report