Lok Sabha Question No. 71 (STARRED), answered on 2022-07-21
Subject: Tawi and Kosi-Mechi River Projects
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Jugal Kishore Sharma, Navneet Ravi Rana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *71

ANSWERED ON 21.07.2022

## TAWI AND KOSI-MECHI RIVER PROJECTS

| †*71                                                                                                  | SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA                                                                             |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:                                                  | Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:                                                  |
| (a) the time by which the Tawi and Kosi-Mechi river projects are likely to be started and completed;  | (a) the time by which the Tawi and Kosi-Mechi river projects are likely to be started and completed;  |
| (b) whether the Government is taking cognizance of the rivers and nallahs affected by these projects; | (b) whether the Government is taking cognizance of the rivers and nallahs affected by these projects; |
| (c) if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken for the same;                            | (c) if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken for the same;                            |
| (d) whether the Government is taking cognizance of the people likely to be affected who would require | (d) whether the Government is taking cognizance of the people likely to be affected who would require |
| (e) if so, the details thereof?                                                                       | (e) if so, the details thereof?                                                                       |
| THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI                                                                            | THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI                                                                            |
| (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)                                                                       | (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)                                                                       |
| (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.                                             | (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.                                             |

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *71 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 21.07.2022 REGARDING 'TAWI AND KOSIMECHI RIVER PROJECTS'

(a) The  Kosi-Mechi  intra-State  link  envisages  diversion  of  part  of  surplus  water  of  river  Kosi  for extending  irrigation  in  new  command  areas  of  Mahananda  basin  lying  in  the  districts  of  Bihar  by extending existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal up to river Mechi so that the rivers that flow through Bihar could  be  linked  together.  The  techno-economic  clearance  and  investment  clearance  of  the  project  has been  accorded  by  Department  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation.  The clearances of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have also been accorded to the project. Further, High Powered Steering Committee of Government of India has recommended this project for inclusion in the scheme of National Projects. The project is to be implemented by the State Government of Bihar and completion period as per DPR of the project is five years.

The Government of UT of Jammu & Kashmir has taken up project viz. Development of Tawi Riverfront Project which involves construction of embankments with stepped retaining wall and diaphragm wall for a length of 2.7 km on both sides of river. The project has completion period of eighteen months.

(b) & (c) During planning stage itself and while formulation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of  river valley  project,  cognizance  of  the  rivers,  nallahs,  water  bodies,  etc.  is  taken  into  consideration  and provision for cross drainage structures such as siphons, aqueducts, river over bridge is accordingly made in the project. This aspect has been duly considered while according techno-economic clearance of KosiMechi intra-State Link. Jammu Smart City Limited, executing project on river Tawi, has informed that all the drainage nallahs (3 on the right bank and 1 on the left bank) carrying rainwater and effluent laden water are planned to be diverted to STPs through interceptor drains to be laid parallel to the flow on both sides of the riverbanks.

(d)  &  (e) In  respect  of  Kosi-Mechi  link  project,  the  State  Government  of  Bihar  has  informed  that provisions of compensation to affected/ rehabilitated people is incorporated in the DPR of the project as per  the  Right  to  Fair  Compensation  and  Transparency  in  Land  Acquisition,  Rehabilitation  and Resettlement Act, 2013. While for the Tawi river Project, Jammu Smart City Limited executing project has informed that this project is being executed in the river basin entirely on the State Land and as such no private land is being acquired. There are 13 structures located on the left bank of river Tawi. Out of these 4 structures belong to the government agencies and 9 structures belong to private individuals for which compensation as per norms is required to be paid.