Lok Sabha Question No. 1282 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-09
Subject: Irrigation Projects in Karnataka
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Prajwal Revanna

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1282

ANSWERED ON 09.02.2023

## IRRIGATION PROJECTS IN KARNATAKA

## 1282. SHRI PRAJWAL REVANNA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the current status of Mekedatu, Ettinahole, Kalasa Bhanduri and Upper Bhadra projects in the State of Karnataka;

(b)  whether the environmental clearances have been obtained by the Ministry in connection with the Mekedatu drinking water project and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Ministry has declared the Upper Bhadra project as National irrigation project and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  cleared  any  major/medium  irrigation/drinking  water  projects  in  the State of Karnataka and if so, the details thereof and the funds sanctioned and released in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) & (c) Current status of  Mekedatu, Ettinahole, Kalasa Bhanduri and Upper Bhadra projects in the State of Karnataka is as follows;

## 1. Mekedatu Project :

Feasibility report of the of Mekedatu balancing reservoir and drinking water project was submitted by Karnataka to Central Water Commission (CWC) under this Ministry in 2018. Based on the same,  a conditional  'in-principle' consent was issued by Screening Committee of CWC, in its meeting dated 24.10.2018.  However,  while  conveying  in-principle  consent,  it  was  stipulated  that  acceptance  of Cauvery  Water  Management  Authority  (CWMA) would  be  a  prerequisite  for  consideration  of  the detailed project report (DPR)  by the Advisory Committee  on Irrigation, Flood Control and Multipurpose projects of this Ministry. Thereafter, DPR of the project was submitted by Government of Karnataka  to  CWC  in  January,  2019.  However,  since  the  DPR  has  not  yet  been  accepted  by CWMA, appraisal process of the project has not been taken up by CWC.

## 2. Ettinahole Project :

Modified DPR of Ettinahole project for an estimated cost of Rs. 12,912.36 crore for JICA funding was submitted  by  Karnataka  to  CWC  in  August  2014.  Subsequently,  revised  cost  estimate  of  the  project amounting to Rs. 18,546 crore was submitted by the State Government to CWC in February 2016. The project  was  examined  by  CWC  and  certain  additional  information/  clarifications/  compliances  were sought. However, inspite of reminders from CWC, the State Government did not provide the requisite information/  compliances.  In  the  mean  time,  guidelines  for  submission,  appraisal  and  acceptance  of irrigation and multipurpose projects were revised in 2017, in light of which the State Government was requested for fresh proposal as per new guidelines. In response, in March, 2017 the State Government re-submitted the earlier submitted DPR itself, without revision or updation. The State Government was again requested by CWC to submit the revised and updated proposal, which was not provided, in light of which the proposal stands deleted from the list of appraisal of externally aided irrigation projects in CWC.

## 3. Kalasa Bhanduri Project:

DPRs of  Kalasa  Nala  as  well  as  Bhanduri  Nala  diversion  schemes  have  been  appraised  by  Central Water Commission (CWC). Based on the same, the two schemes have been found to be acceptable from hydrology and inter-State aspects, subject to obtaining of statutory and mandatory clearances, and compliance to the conditions laid down by CWC while conveying the acceptability.

## 4. Upper Bhadra project:

Upper  Bhadra  project  has  been  recommended  by  High  Powered  Steering  Committee  (HPSC) constituted for recommending inclusion under National Projects scheme of this Ministry. Further, the project has also been recommended by Public Investment Board (PIB) of Department of Expenditure, for central assistance of Rs. 5,300 crore.

(b) In  June,  2019,  a  proposal  was  submitted  by  Government  of  Karnataka  to  the  Ministry  of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, for grant of Terms of Reference (ToR), which is an essential step for seeking environmental clearance. However, in view of the project involving inter-State issue, it was decided by MoEF&CC that the ToR may be issued only after DPR of the project is finalised by Ministry of Jal Shakti and approved by CWMA. The project has since been de-listed from the PARIVESH portal of MoEF&CC.

(d) Five irrigation projects have been included in the list of 99 priority projects taken up under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana - Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) scheme of this Ministry in 2016. Details in respect of these are tabulated below:

| Project                            | Status   | Irrigation potential in thousand hectare   | Irrigation potential in thousand hectare   | Central assistance due (Rs. in crore)   | Central assistance released (Rs. in crore)   |
|------------------------------------|----------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
|                                    |          | Targeted                                   | Achieved                                   |                                         |                                              |
| Rameshwaramlift irrigation scheme  | Complete | 13.80                                      | 13.80                                      | -                                       | -                                            |
| Bhima lift irrigation scheme       | Complete | 24.29                                      | 24.29                                      | 44.89                                   | 38.04                                        |
| Karanja irrigation project         | Complete | 29.23                                      | 27.40                                      | 35.15                                   | 35.15                                        |
| Upper Tunga project                | Ongoing  | 25.45                                      | 23.69                                      | 217.76                                  | 184.04                                       |
| Narayanpur left bank canal project | Ongoing  | 105.00                                     | 104.90                                     | 940.50                                  | 929.4                                        |
| Total                              | Total    | 197.77                                     | 194.08                                     | 1,238.30                                | 1,186.63                                     |