Lok Sabha Question No. 919 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-21
Subject: National Waterways
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: Sisir Kumar Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 919

TO BE ANSWERED  ON 21"rNovember,2019

## NATIONAL  WATERWAYS

## 919. SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of SHlpplNG  be pleased  to state: qldcft-+q{{fi

- (a) whether  it is a fact that the decision to declare  106 waterways  of the country  as ,'Natronal Waterways"  was met with strong opposition  from the Centre's two major departments, the NlTl Aayog and the Ministry of Finance;
- (b) if so, the details  thereof including  the objections raised by NlTl Aayog and the Ministry of Finance  therefor;
- (c) the status of making  these National  Waterways  operational and the quantum  of funds earmarked for the purpose therein; and
- (d) the present status of interlinking  of rivers in the country thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE) FOR SHIPPING (SHRI MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a)&  (b) ln addition to the five existing  National  Waterways (NWs),  106 new NWs were dectared under  the National  waterways  Act, 2016 which was notified on 12.04.2016.  prior  to the declaration  of new NWs, under the proposed  legislatron,  inter Ministerial  consultations, including with NlTl Aayog and Ministry of Finance were held. The National Waterways  Bill, 20  j  5 was also deliberated  by the Parliamentary  Standing Committee  on Transport,  Tourism  and Culture whrch presented  its recommendations  to Parliament  in its 223'd Report. The National Waterways  Bill, 2015 was approved by Union Cabinet and passed by Parliament as National  Wateryays  Act, 2016.
- (c) National Waterway (NW)-1 (Ganga-B h ag irathi-H oog h ty river system from Allahabad  to Haldia),  NW-2 (River Brahmaputra from Dhubri to sadiya), NW-3 (west  coast canal from Kottapuram to Kollam along with Udyogmandal  and Champakara  Canals)  have been developed with fairway navigational aids, jetties  and terminals with mechanized  equipment  handting facilities for loading and unloading  of cargo.  These NWs are operational  and vessels  are plyjng on them. ln addition,  NW-'10 (River Amba), NW-68 (River  Mandovi), NW-73 (River Narmada), NW-83 (Rajpuri  creek),  NW-85 (Revadanda  creek-Kundalika  River system), NW-91 (shastri  river\_ Jaigad creek system), NW-97 (Sunderbans  waterways), NW-1oo (River  'Tapi) and NW-111 (River  Zuari) are also operatlonal.

The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) is being implemented  at an estimated cost of Rs. 5369 18 crore for capacity augmentation of navigation  on the Haldia-Varanasi  stretch of NW-1 with the technical  and financial assistance  of the World Bank. Projects  worth Rs. 1800 crore (approx ) have commenced on ground in a time period of three years after statutory clearances.

Fainvay development  works on the vijayawada-puktyala  stretch of river Krishna (part of NW-4) has commenced at a cost of Rs.  g6  crore.

Based on the outcome of techno-economic feasibility  and Detailed Project Reports  (DpRs) prepared  for 106 new NWs, technical interventions  have been planned for safe navigation  and shipping  on technically  viable NWs by the lnland Watenruays Authority of lndia (lWAl).  As per the DPRs completed  so far for the new NWs, 36 NWs have been found to be technically viable and development  activities have been initiated  on 10 NWs viz. NW-g, NW-16,  NW-27,  NW-37, NW-40, NW-58, NW-68, NW-86, NW-97 and NW-111.

To develop the NWs, the Government  provides funds to the lnland Waterurays  Authority of lndia as Grants-in-aid and had permitted  lWAl to raise Government of lndia fully serviced Bonds (Extra Budgetary  Resources) of Rs. 1000  crore. ln this regard,  the details of Budgetary  Estimates, Revised Estimates and Expenditure during the last five years are given below:

(Rs. in crore)

| Year      | Budget Estimate                  | Revised imate                     | I E' p.                                                            |
|-----------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2015-16   | 323.19 (Grants)                  | 321.91(Grants)                    | 321 91 --                                                          |
| 2016-17   | BE 391.01 (Grants) + EBRs 340.00 | E 362 31 (Grants) +l+ EBRs 340.00 | i gs8 4(, I 237.32 ( Grants) EBRs)                                 |
| 2017-18   | 270.00 (Grants) + 660.00 (EBRs)  | 26 oela G,*trl +l+ 660 oo (EBR,   | J - - q26 ogla (Ga;ia)- (EBRs)                                     |
| 201 B-1 I | 480.00 (Grants)                  | 862.49 (Grants)                   | I ___ 1rt_1?i? i 862.49 (( l+ 111 94 ( )2.49 (Grants) + 11,91F_qR{ |
| 2019-20   | 750.36 (Grants)                  | NA -                              | I f-3?4+Ttupto 30.09.2019)                                         |

(d): The present status of interlinking  of rivers in the country as reported by the Ministry  of Jal Shakti is at Annex.

## Present status of interlinking of rivers in the countrv

The National  Perspective  Plan (NPP) was prepared  by the then Ministry  of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) in August, 1980 for water resources development through inter basin transfer of water, for transferring  water from water  surplus basins to water-deficit  basins. Under the NPP, the National  Water Development  Agency (NWDA) has identifie,J 30 links (16 under Peninsular  Component  and 14 under Himalayan  Component)  for preparation  of ieasibility Reports (FRs).  The details  of above  river linking projects viz., rivers,  States concerned, present status are given at Appendix.

Under the NPP, four priority links have also been identified  for preparation of Detailed  project Reports (DPR) under the Peninsular  Rivers component viz; Ken-Betwa link project (KBap) Damanganga-Pinjal  link project, Par-Tapi-Narmada  link project and Gr:davari-ia  uvery Iink project. Based on the concurrence  of the concerned States, DPRs of KBLP, Damanganga-pinjal link project  and Par-Tapi-Narmada link project have been completed  and sent to concerned States.

Further, draft DPR of Godavari-Cauvery link project consisting  of three links viz; Godavari (lncham pa lli/ Ja nam pet)-Kris  hna  (Naga rju nasagar),  Krish  na (Nag arju  nasagar)-pen  n ar (Somasila),  Pennar (Somasila)-Cauvery  (Grand Anicut) link projects  has LeLn completed  and circulated  to party States in March,  2019.

Various statutory clearances  except Stage-ll  forest clearance  & clearance from Central Empowered Committee (CEC)  of Hon'ble Supreme  Court have been accorded  for components under KBLP Phase-|. The clearances for the projects proposed  under KBLp  phase-ll  are rn advanced stages. The comprehensive DPR of KBLP has been completed and circulated to Governments of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) and Madhya  pradesh  (M  p ) Draft Memorandum of Agreement for implementation  of KBLP has been sent to Governments of M.p. and U.p. for concurrence.

The techno-economjc  clearance  to the Damanganga-Pinjal  link project has also been accorded subject  to statutory clearances. The DPR of Par-Tapi-Na rmada is under technical  appraisal in Central  Water Commission.  Draft MoU for implementation  of Damanganga-Pinjal  and  par-TapiNarmada link projects has also been sent to Governments of Maharjshtra  and Gujarat ior concurrence.

lntegration of Himalayan component wrth  peninsular  component is also explored.

The Government is pursuing  the lnter-Linking  of Rivers (lLR) program  in a consultative  manner. A "Special  Committee  on lnterlinking  of Rivers" has been constituted  in September,2014  under the chairmanship  of Hon ble Minister of wR, RD & GR (now Ministry oi Jal shakti) for the implementation  of ILR programme.  Sixteen meetings  of the Special iommittee for ILR have been held so far (last meeting held on 21 .08.2019). Further, a Task Forr:e for lnterlinking of Rrvers has been constituted  by MowR, RD & GR (now MoJS) in April, 2015. Eleven meetingi of the Task Force for interlinking  of rivers have been held so far and the last meeting  was held on 18.10.2019. Vigorous efforts have been made for generating consensus with dJvelopment  of alternative plans  and also setting out road maps  for implementation of mature projects.

## ApPen.dix

Present status of lnter Basin Water Transfer Links, the States involved,  name of rivers and status of Feasibility  Reports/  Detailed  Project Report

| sl. No.                        | Name                                                   |                                | Country/States --l con_ce_rned                                  | Present Status                        | of rces Status < qlgaranl      |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Y_l _ L Himalayan Component _l | Y_l _ L Himalayan Component _l                         | Y_l _ L Himalayan Component _l | Y_l _ L Himalayan Component _l                                  | Y_l _ L Himalayan Component _l        | Y_l _ L Himalayan Component _l |
| 1.                             | Kosi-Mechi link                                        | Kosi&Mechi                     | Bihar, West Bengal & Nepal                                      | PFR completed Entirely lies in        |                                |
| 2.                             | Kosi-Ghaghra link                                      | Kosi & Ghaghra                 | Bihar, Uttar Ic4egh& n-epql                                     | PFR completed                         |                                |
| 3.                             | Gandak-Ganga link                                      | Gandak & Ganga                 | do                                                              | Draft FR completed pqilg!             |                                |
| 4.                             | Ghaghra-Yamuna link                                    | Ghaghra & Yamuna               | -do-                                                            | -tntan FR completed (t4re!,pq!e!      |                                |
| 5.                             | Sarda-Yamuna link                                      | Sarda & Yamuna                 | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana Rajasthan, Uttarakhand & Nepal    | FR completed (lndian portion)         |                                |
| 6                              | Yamuna-Rajasthan link                                  | Yamuna & Sukri                 | Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana & Rajasthan                     | Draft FR completed                    |                                |
| 7                              | Rajasthan-Sabarmati link                               | Sabarmati                      | -do-                                                            | Draft FR q9mp,!e,!eQ                  |                                |
| o                              | Chunar-Sone Barrage link                               | Ganga & Sone                   | Bihar & Uttar Pradesh                                           | Draft FR 90_!rplglqd                  |                                |
| I                              | Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Ganga link          | Sone & Badua                   | Bihar & Jharkhand                                               | PFR completed                         |                                |
| 10.                            | Manas-Sankosh-Tista- Ganga (M-S-T-G) link              | Manas- Sankosh- Tista-Ganga    | Assam, West Bengal, Bihar & Bhutan                              | PFR completed.                        |                                |
| 11.                            | Jogighopa-Tista- Farakka link (Alternative to M.S-T-G) | Manas, Tista & Ganga           | -do-                                                            | (Alternative to M-S-T-G Link) dropped |                                |
| 12.                            | Ganga (Farakka)- Sunderbans link                       | Ganga & lchhamati              | West Bengal                                                     | Draft FR                              |                                |
| 13.                            | Ganga (Farakka)- Damodar- Subernarekha link            | Ganga, Damodar & Subernarekha  | West Bengal, Odisha & Jharkhand                                 | Draft FR completed                    |                                |
| 14.                            | Subernarekha- Mahanadi link                            | Subernarekha & Mahanadi        | West Bengal & Odisha                                            | Draft FR Completed                    |                                |
| Peninsular Component           | Peninsular Component                                   | Peninsular Component           | Peninsular Component                                            | Peninsular Component                  | Peninsular Component           |
| 15                             | Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link   | Mahanadi & Godavari            | Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, | FR Completed                          |                                |

| st. No.   | Name                                                    | Rivers                   | Country/States concerned                                   | Present Status                                                                | Status of clearances                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 16        | Godavari (l nchampalli) - Krishna (Naqariunasaqar) link | Godavari & Krishna       | -do-                                                       | FR Completed                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 17        | Godavari (l nchampalli) - Krishna (Pulichintala) link   | Godavari & Krishna       | -do-                                                       | FR Completed                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 1B        | Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada) link        | Godavari & Krishna       | -do-                                                       | FR Completed                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 19        | Krishna (Almatti) * Pennar link                         | Krishna &Pennar          | Maharshtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telanqana           | FR Completed                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 20        | Krishna (Srisailam) - Pennar link                       | Krishna & Pennar         | -do-                                                       | FR Completed                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 21        | Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) . Pennar (Somasila I link      | Krishna & Pennar         | -do-                                                       | FR Completed                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 22        | Pennar (Somasila) - Palar-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link   | Penna r& Cauvery         | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry | FR Completed                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 23        | Cauvery (Kattalai)- Vaigai -Gundar link                 | Cauvery, Vaigai & Gundar | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherrv                 | FR Completed                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 24        | Ken-Betwa link                                          | Ken & Betwa              | Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh                             | FR& DPR (Phase- I & ll) Completed Compreherrsive DPR sent to Govt of M.P & UP | Phase-! All statutory clearances (except Stage-ll forest clearance and clearance from CEC of Hon'ble Supreme Court) and Techno- economic clearance (Ju1y,2016) completed for Phase-l components. Phase-ll Staqe-l |

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

| st. No.   | Name                              | Rivers                       | Country/States concerned                                                                           | Present Status      | Status of clearances                                                                                                      |
|-----------|-----------------------------------|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           |                                   |                              |                                                                                                    |                     | Forest clearance, MoTA clearance for Lower Orr dam, Environmentr l& Forest clearances for Bina complex projects accorded. |
| 25        | Parbati -Kalisindh- Chambal link  | Parbati, Kalisindh & Chambal | Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh (UP requested to be consulted during consensus buildrng) | FR Completed        |                                                                                                                           |
| 26        | Par-Tapi-Narmada link             | Par, Tapi & Narmada          | Maharashtra & Gujarat                                                                              | FR & DPR Completed. | ieChr,rAi- appraisal is under progress in CWC.                                                                            |
| 27        | Damanganga - Pinjal link          | Damanganga & Pinlal          | Mrh;i*htE e- - Gujarat                                                                             | FR & DPR Completed  | Techno- economic clearance accorded. (Julv, 201 6                                                                         |
| 28        | Bedti - Varda link                | Bedti & Varda                | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka                                                            | PFR Completed       |                                                                                                                           |
| 29        | Netravati - Hemavati link         | Netravati & Hemavati         | karffiGka,-Gnit Nadu & Kerala                                                                      | PFR Completed       |                                                                                                                           |
| 30        | Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link | Pamba, Achankovil & Vaippar  | Kerala & Tamil Nadu,                                                                               | FR Completed        |                                                                                                                           |

Note: NWDA completed the draft DPR of alternate study of Godavari (lnchampalliiJanampet)Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link project consists  of  3  links 'viz., Godavari (lnchampalli/Janampet)-Krishna (N agarjunasagar),  Krish na (Nagarju  nasaga r)Pennar(Somasila)  and Pennar (Somasila)-Cauvery  (Grand Anicut)  link projecti.