Lok Sabha Question No. 1697 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-20
Subject: Drying Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 1697

ANSWERED ON 20.12 .201 8

## DRYING RIVERS

## 1697. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA

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

(a) whether the Government is aware that country has been facing severe water crisis as a cent of the country has turned into water stressed d ust bowl with many rivers rapidly drying up;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has chalked out any plan to save the said rivers in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) to (d) The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely dependen -meteorological and geological factors and is generally constant. The average annual water p country has been assessed as 1869 billion cubic m eters (BCM). Due to topographical and other factors, utilizable water availability is limited to 1137 BCM per annum, comprising of 690 BCM of su and 447 BCM of replenishable ground water.

Two types of rivers exist in the country; (1) Perennial Rivers and (2) Non - Perennial Rivers. In Perennial Rivers water remains available throughout the year. Non - perennial rivers are rain fed rivers which water flows only during the rainfall period. The flow in the rivers is dynamic and depends on ma parameters such as rainfall, its distribution and intensity in the catchment, catchment c withdrawals/utilizations  of  water,  etc.  Central  Water  Commission  (CWC)  under  this  Min Hy drological  Observation  sites  on  all  important/major  rivers  in  the  country.  On  the  ba average flows of last 20 years, no increasing/decreasing trend in water availability has b major rivers in the country.

However, water available per person is dependent on population of the country and f water availability per capita is reducing progressively due to increase in population. The per capita water availability in the years 2001 and 2011 was assessed as 1816 cubic meters and 1545 cubic meters, respectively, which may reduce further to 1340 and 1140 in the years 2025 and 2050 Annual  per -capita  water  availability  of  less  than  1700  cubic  meters  is  considered  as  wa condition, whereas annual per - capita water availability below 1000 cubic meters is considered as

scarcity condition. Due to high temporal and spatial variation of precipitation, the water a region of the country is much below the national average and can be considered as water stressed scarce.

The Government of India has taken a number of initiatives for river development/r The work of development of River Ganga and its tributaries is undertaken by Ministry of Water Re River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under National Mission for Clean Ganga. The devel work for rest of the rivers is undertaken by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Cha e under the National River Conservation Plan on cost sharing basis between the Central and State Gover basis of proposals received from the State Governments.

Government of India has constituted an expert group under the chairmanship of Chief Executive Officer  (CEO),  NITI  Aayog  consisting  of  Secretaries  of  the  Ministry  of  Water  Resour Development  &  Ganga  Rejuvenation,  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forests  &  Climate  Change,  Mini Housing & Urban Affairs, Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Rural Development a Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmer's Welfare to examine the draft policy recommendations for revitalization  of  rivers  in  India  submitted  by  Isha  Foundation  and  workout  an  action Governme nt.  Subsequently,  Department  of  Rural  Development  prepared  programme  for  action  'River Rejuvenation under MNREGS'  and the same has been forwarded by NITI Aayog to Chief Secretaries/Administrators of all States/UTs.

The Government of India has formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Development which envisages transfer of water from surplus river basins to water deficit riv the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) identified 30 inter basin water transfer (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibilit (FR).  The  Pre -Feasibility  Reports  (PFRs)  of  the  all  30  links  have  been  prepared  and  circu conce rned State Governments. After survey and investigations, Feasibility Reports (FR) of 1 Peninsular Component and FRs of 2 links (Indian portion) and draft FRs of 7 links (Indian Himalayan Component have been completed.

The  impl ementation    of  Inter  linking    of  Rivers  (ILR)  projects  involves  various  s preparation of  Pre - feasibility Reports (PFRs) / Feasibility Reports (FRs) of links, negotiation among  concerned  States,  agreement    with  neighbouring  countr ies  if  link  involves  area  lying  in  t countries, preparation of DPRs of the projects, clearance from appraisal agencies  which in by Ministry of Environment & Forests and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) and Ministry of Tribal Affair (MoTA), techno - economic clearance by Advisory Committee on Irrigation, Flood control & multi projects of MoWR, RD & GR,  investment clearance and the construction time required for the of the project as per the DPR.  The stage of implementation o f a project would be reached after its DP prepared and the requisite statutory clearances are obtained. Thus, the implementation of take varying periods of time.

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