Lok Sabha Question No. 1994 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-28
Subject: Inter-Linking of ERCP
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1994 ANSWERED ON 28.07.2022

## INTER-LINKING OF ERCP

## 1994 SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  for  inter-linking  of  Eastern  Rajasthan  Canal  Project (ERCP) with Parbati-Kuno-Sind Link Project;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to declare ERCP as a National Project; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a)  to  (d)  Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal  (PKC)  Link  Canal  Project  is  one  the  30  link  projects identified under National Perspective Plan (NPP) prepared by Ministry of Jal Shakti. The PKC link  project  benefits  the  States  of  Rajasthan  and  Madhya  Pradesh.  However,  the  project  as planned originally could not be materialised due to lack of consensus on water sharing between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The Government of Rajasthan formulated Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project to utilize surplus  water  resources  available  in  the  catchments  of  some  of  the  sub-basins  of  Chambal basin,viz;Kalisindh  and  Parbati  to  meet  water  demands  particularly  for  the  drinking  water supply in various districts in eastern Rajasthan. The Government of Rajasthan has proposed to utilize  about  3500  MCM  of  water  available  at  50%  dependability  to  meet  drinking  water requirements  of  13  districts  of  Eastern  Rajasthan  as  well  as  to  provide  irrigation  to  new command areas of about 2 lakh ha and stabilization of about 0.80 lakh ha of existing command area.  The  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  of  ERCP  is  under  appraisal  in  Central  Water Commission (CWC). As the diversion of water involves interstate rivers, CWC has requested Rajasthan in September, 2018 to either revisit the planning of ERCP for water availability from 50 percent dependability to 75 percent dependability or seek No Objection Certificate (NOC) from  Madhya  Pradesh.  Govt.  of  Madhya  Pradesh  has  also  stressed  upon  planning  all components of ERCP for water available at 75 percent dependability.

With a view to optimize the utilization of water of the Chambal River System, the Task force on Interlinking of Rivers in November, 2019 decided to explore the integration of ERCP with PKC link  project.  Accordingly,  NWDA  prepared  a  draft  Pre-Feasibility  Report  (PFR)  for  ParbatiKuno-Sindh (PKS) link project pertaining to components in Madhya Pradesh and   proposing to integrate  the  same  with  ERCP.  In  the  PFR,  an  exchange  of  about  131  MCM  of  water  was proposed  in  Kuno  and  Parbati  sub-basins  between  the  two  States.  There  are  possibilities  of similar exchange in Kalisindh sub-basin.

The issue of integration of ERCP with PKC link has been deliberated with both the States at various platforms. The issues for the integration of ERCP with PKC link under NPP are yet to be resolved, particularly in respect of the dependability criteria for diversion of water in the inter-State rivers, which has been planned at 50 percent dependability for ERCP by the state of Rajasthan.

Based  on  deliberations  at  various  platforms,  a  proposal  of      modified  ParbatiKalisindh-Chambal (Modified PKC) link, incorporating the components as proposed by Govt. of Madhya Pradesh in Kuno, Parbati and Kalisindh sub-basins along with components  of ERCP corresponding to divertible water available at 75 percent dependability, has been framed.

The Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers (TF-ILR) has recommended in its 16th meeting held on 17.05.2022 to proceed with the proposal of modified PKC link, under Phase-I.

Further, as per the guidelines for inclusion of a project for funding under National Projects scheme of Government of India, the project is required to be first appraised by Central Water  Commission  (CWC),  and  accepted  by  the  Advisory  Committee  on  Irrigation,  Flood Control and Multipurpose Projects of Ministry of Jal Shakti. Thereafter, investment clearance is required  to  be  obtained  by  the  State  Government.Subsequently,  if  the  project  meets  the  laid down  norms  for  the  National  Project  scheme,  it  is  required  to  be  considered  by  the  High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) setup for the purpose .On being recommended by HPSC, and as per availability of funds etc., Government of India considers inclusion of a project under the National Projects scheme.

As such, for consideration on inclusion of a project for funding under National Projects scheme of Ministry of Jal Shakti, its appraisal by CWC is one of the important criteria to be fulfilled. However,  in  respect  of  ERCP,  in  absence  of  amicable  resolution  of  the  inter-State  issues between the States  of  Madhya  Pradesh  and  Rajasthan,  the  project  has  not  been  appraised  by CWC.