Lok Sabha Question No. 381 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Environmental Clearance for Irrigation Projects
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Ashok Mahadeorao Nete

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 381

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2020

## Environmental Clearance for Irrigation Projects

## *381. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY& SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether small and medium irrigation projects from various States are pending with the Union Government for want of environmental/forest clearance;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  such  pending  projects,  project  and  State/UT-wise  including  Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra;
- (c) the reasons for delay in granting environmental/forest clearance along with the details of projects sanctioned during the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (d) the time since when the above mentioned irrigation projects are under consideration of the Union Government; and
- (e) the other steps taken/proposed by the Government to clear these pending projects?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (e)   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARAS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *381 DUE  FOR REPLY ON 20.03.2020  REGARDING 'ENVIRONMENTAL  CLEARANCE  FOR  IRRIGATION  PROJECTS'  BY  SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY& SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

(a)

Yes, Sir

(b) to (d)

- I. There is no proposal pending for Small and Medium Irrigation Projects with the Ministry for  approval  under  EIA  Notification,  2006.Details  of  Small  and  Medium  Irrigation projects  (CCA:  less  than  10,  000  ha)  fulfilling  General  Condition  submitted  to  the Ministry and pending at Central level, along with reason for delay are tabulated below:

|   Sl. No. | Name of State   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                 | Date of Submission   | Reasons for delay                                                                                                                 |
|-----------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Maharashtra     | Nardave Medium Irrigation Project (CCA: 9,978 ha) at Dist.: Sindhudurg, Maharashtra                                                 | 04.01.2019           | Non submission of information from Project Proponent.                                                                             |
|         2 | Telangana       | Channaka-Korata (Rudha) Barrage on Penganga River- Interstate Irrigation Project, (CCA: 6677.00 ha), Adilabad district of Telangana | 16.04.2019           | Non submission of Stage I Forest Clearance (FC) for the forestland involved in the State of Maharashtra by the Project Proponent. |
|         3 | Telangana       | ModikuntaVagu Irrigation Project (CCA: 5,500 ha) in Jayashankar Bhoopalpally District of Telangana                                  | 16.12.2019           | Non submission of information from Project Proponent.                                                                             |
|         4 | Madhya Pradesh  | Satdharu Medium Irrigation Project (CCA: 7,555 ha) in District Damoh                                                                | 18.05.2019           | Non submission of information from Project Proponent.                                                                             |
|         5 | Odisha          | Khairibhandan Barrage Irrigation Project (CCA: 6,950 ha) of Dept. of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha inMayurbhanj                  | 23.08.2019           | Non submission of information from Project Proponent.                                                                             |

|    |                | District                                                                                                |
|----|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  6 | Andhra Pradesh | No Small and Medium Irrigation project sare pending at Central level for grant Environmental Clearance. |

## II. All Irrigation Projects granted Environmental Clearance (EC) by the MoEF&CC after the recommendation of the EAC at Central level in last one year:

|   Sl. No. | Name of State   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Date of EC granted   |
|-----------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|
|         1 | Madhya Pradesh  | Parbati (Rinsi) Major Irrigation Project (CCA: 48,000 ha) in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh by Water Resources Department, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                                                | 11.12.2019           |
|         2 | Uttarakhand     | Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project (CCA: 57,065 ha) by Irrigation Department, Uttarakhand                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 13.12.2019           |
|         3 | Bihar           | Kosi-Mechi Intrastate link project(CCA: 2,14,812 ha) (Construction of 76.20 km long canal on the existing barrage beyond eastern Kosi main canal (41.30 km) for irrigation purpose under Kosi- Mechi intrastate link project in the state of Bihar by M/s. Water Resources Department, Govt. of Bihar | 01.08.2019           |
|         4 | Odisha          | Jeera Irrigation Project (CCA: 4,800 ha) in the Bargarh District, Odisha by M/s Department of Water Resources, Government of Odisha                                                                                                                                                                   | 21.05.2019           |
|         5 | Madhya Pradesh  | Majhgaon Medium Irrigation project (CCA: 9,900 ha) in Panna District of Madhya Pradesh by Water Resources Department, Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                  | 08.04.2019           |
|         6 | Telangana       | Sita Rama Irrigation Project (CCA: 1,33,085 ha), district Bhadradri Kothagudem, Telangana                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 07.01.2019           |
|         7 | Telangana       | Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (CCA: 18,211 ha) near Kannepally village, Mahadevpur Mandal, Jayashankar Bhoopalpally district, Telangana                                                                                                                                                           | 25.02.2020           |

- III .  There is no proposal pending with the Ministry for approval under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. List of the proposals related to small and medium irrigation, which have been received and are under consideration of the Ministry is annexed at Annexure I .
- IV .  All  the  proposals  including  small  and  medium  irrigation  projects  are  dealt  as  per  the procedure and norms under Forest (Conservation) Rules and Guidelines. The details of the approval accorded under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and for non-forestry use is annexed at Annexure II.

## (e)

Ministry of Environment, forest and Climate Change has taken several steps to expedite the issuance of environmental clearance, inter alia, including: -

1. Launching of Single-Window Integrated Environmental Management System  named  PARIVESH  (Pro-Active  and  Responsive  facilitation  by Interactive, Virtuous and Environmental Single-window Hub) for a complete  online,  expeditious  and  transparent  system  for  environment, forest, wildlife and CRZ clearances in the country;
2. Standardization of Terms of Reference.
3. Validity of ToR is increased from four years to five years in one go.
4. Standardization of Environmental Clearance conditions.
5. Provision of alert through SMS to the project proponents.
6. Delegation  of  more  projects  to  the  State  Level  Environmental  Impact Assessment Authority.
7. Standardization of Forms for application.

*********

## Annexure-I

| List of Irrigation proposals under consideration with UoI for forest clearance   | List of Irrigation proposals under consideration with UoI for forest clearance                                                         | List of Irrigation proposals under consideration with UoI for forest clearance   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                                                          | Name of the project                                                                                                                    | State                                                                            |
| 1.                                                                               | Banda Irrigation Project, Water Resource Department, Madhya Pradesh                                                                    | Madhya Pradesh                                                                   |
| 2.                                                                               | C/o Bali Chowki and Multi Village Group Piped Water Supply Scheme For Part of Seraj Block of Mandi District. (H.P.).                   | Himachal Pradesh                                                                 |
| 3.                                                                               | Construction of Somb Saraswati Barrage on River Somb.                                                                                  | Haryana                                                                          |
| 4.                                                                               | Forest Land proposed to be diverted For Construction of Kanhar Irrigation Project for area of 127.1637 ha in Sonebhadra District (UP). | Uttar Pradesh                                                                    |
| 5.                                                                               | Jawar Micro Lift Irrigation Scheme                                                                                                     | Madhya Pradesh                                                                   |
| 6.                                                                               | Ammadad Tank                                                                                                                           | Chhattisgarh                                                                     |
| 7.                                                                               | Uma Barrage                                                                                                                            | Chhattisgarh                                                                     |
| 8. Narmada-Jhabua-Petlawad-Thandla-Sardarpur Irrigation Scheme                   | Micro Lift                                                                                                                             | Madhya Pradesh                                                                   |
| 9.                                                                               | Satdharu Medium Tank Project                                                                                                           | Madhya Pradesh                                                                   |
| 10. Lanth Medium Irrigation                                                      | Project Odisha                                                                                                                         | Upper                                                                            |
| 11.                                                                              | ISPKalisindh Link Project Phase-I                                                                                                      | Madhya Pradesh                                                                   |

Annexure II

| Statement showing State-wise Final Approval accorded in current year for non-forestry purpose under FC Act, 1980   | Statement showing State-wise Final Approval accorded in current year for non-forestry purpose under FC Act, 1980   | Statement showing State-wise Final Approval accorded in current year for non-forestry purpose under FC Act, 1980   | Statement showing State-wise Final Approval accorded in current year for non-forestry purpose under FC Act, 1980   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Category: All Categories                                                                                           | Category: All Categories                                                                                           | During the Period: 01/01/2019 APPROVED                                                                             | During the Period: 01/01/2019 APPROVED                                                                             |
| S. No.                                                                                                             | States/UTs                                                                                                         | No. of Cases                                                                                                       | Area Approved (in ha)                                                                                              |
| 1                                                                                                                  | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                     | 5                                                                                                                  | 196.933                                                                                                            |
| 2                                                                                                                  | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                  | 1                                                                                                                  | 4577.84                                                                                                            |
| 3                                                                                                                  | ASSAM                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                                  | 1.00                                                                                                               |
| 4                                                                                                                  | Bihar                                                                                                              | 33                                                                                                                 | 461.79                                                                                                             |
| 5                                                                                                                  | CHHATTISGARH                                                                                                       | 1                                                                                                                  | 207.99                                                                                                             |
| 6                                                                                                                  | GOA                                                                                                                | 1                                                                                                                  | 0.93                                                                                                               |
| 7                                                                                                                  | Gujarat                                                                                                            | 258                                                                                                                | 1719.66                                                                                                            |
| 8                                                                                                                  | Haryana                                                                                                            | 389                                                                                                                | 645.86                                                                                                             |
| 9                                                                                                                  | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                   | 78                                                                                                                 | 671.93                                                                                                             |
| 10                                                                                                                 | Jharkhand                                                                                                          | 17                                                                                                                 | 933.89                                                                                                             |
| 11                                                                                                                 | Karnataka                                                                                                          | 17                                                                                                                 | 221.67                                                                                                             |
| 12                                                                                                                 | Kerala                                                                                                             | 2                                                                                                                  | 0.26                                                                                                               |
| 13                                                                                                                 | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                     | 271                                                                                                                | 2139.22                                                                                                            |
| 14                                                                                                                 | Maharashtra                                                                                                        | 3                                                                                                                  | 183.79                                                                                                             |
| 15                                                                                                                 | Manipur                                                                                                            | 1                                                                                                                  | 24.50                                                                                                              |
| 16                                                                                                                 | Meghalaya                                                                                                          | 2                                                                                                                  | 0.03                                                                                                               |
| 17                                                                                                                 | Mizoram                                                                                                            | 3                                                                                                                  | 46.48                                                                                                              |
| 18                                                                                                                 | Orissa                                                                                                             | 20                                                                                                                 | 5171.44                                                                                                            |
| 19                                                                                                                 | Punjab                                                                                                             | 186                                                                                                                | 439.80                                                                                                             |
| 20                                                                                                                 | Rajasthan                                                                                                          | 47                                                                                                                 | 474.84                                                                                                             |
| 21                                                                                                                 | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                         | 8                                                                                                                  | 28.29                                                                                                              |
| 22                                                                                                                 | Telangana                                                                                                          | 29                                                                                                                 | 2113.18                                                                                                            |
| 23                                                                                                                 | Tripura                                                                                                            | 11                                                                                                                 | 266.67                                                                                                             |
| 24                                                                                                                 | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                      | 45                                                                                                                 | 82.08                                                                                                              |
| 25                                                                                                                 | Uttarakhand                                                                                                        | 93                                                                                                                 | 256.55                                                                                                             |
| 26                                                                                                                 | West Bengal                                                                                                        | 2                                                                                                                  | 102.33                                                                                                             |
| 27                                                                                                                 | Grand Total                                                                                                        | 1524                                                                                                               | 20968.94                                                                                                           |
| 28                                                                                                                 | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                      | 0                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               |
| 29                                                                                                                 | Uttarakhand                                                                                                        | 60                                                                                                                 | 171.64                                                                                                             |
| 30                                                                                                                 | West Bengal                                                                                                        | 3                                                                                                                  | 124.87                                                                                                             |
| Grand Total                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                    | 574                                                                                                                | 7576.61                                                                                                            |

Note:  There was no diversion of forestland in respect of remaining six States /UTs