Lok Sabha Question No. 1559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-10
Subject: Utilisation of Flood Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Nama Nageswara Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1559

ANSWERED ON 10.02.2022

## UTILISATION OF FLOOD WATER

1559. SHRI NAMA NAGESWARA RAO

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether flood water is being utilised properly in the country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the government has conducted any study to utilise flood water in an effective way and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken by the government in this regard along with the achievements as a result thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The flood water is being partially utilized in the country by way of creating storages, diversion and inter-basin transfer  but  the  large  amount  of  water  remains  unutilised  due  to  geographical  constraints,  shortage  of  storage reservoirs and lack of inter-basin transfer mechanisms. For conserving and using the waters of rivers, gross storage capacity of 325.455 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) in form of Dams/reservoirs has been created in the country over the years.

(b)Total water requirement of the country for different uses for high demand scenario for the year 2050 as assessed by National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD-1999) constituted by Ministry of Water Resources, is 1180 BCM. As per erstwhile Planning Commission 'Report of the Working Group on Water Resources for the XI Five Year Plan (2007-2012)', the surface water use, in view of large temporal variability would approximately  require  live  storage  of  around  450  BCM.National  Water  Policy  of  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  has emphasized  storage  projects  with  dedicated  flood  storage  as  the  long  term  solution  to  the  devastating  floods occurring every year.

(c) Central/State Governments have accorded high priority to the Optimum utilisation of water is continues effort of Central/State Governments. Water being State subject, water resources projects are planned funded, executed and maintained by the State Government themselves as per their own need, priority and available resources. In order to supplement their efforts,  Government of India provide technical and financial assistance to State Governments to encourage  sustainable  development  and  efficient  management  of  water  resources  through  various  scheme  and programmes  such  as  Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefits  Programme  (AIBP),  Har  Khet  ko  Pani  (HKKP),  etc.  under

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). Many of the projects under PMKSY store flood water during monsoon season in their reservoirs and multi-purpose storages of these projects have helped greatly in moderating the intensity of flood in the downstream flood plain area. Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) programme has been taken up on high Priority. National Perspective Plan (NPP) formulated by the Government of India for diversion of surplus water to deficit areas aims to provide benefits of 25 million hectare (mha) of irrigation from surface waters, 10 mha. by increased use of ground waters, raising the ultimate irrigation potential from 140 mha to 175 mha. and generation of  34  million  Kilowatt  (mKW)  of  power,  apart  from  the  incidental  benefits  of  flood  control,  navigation,  water supply,  fisheries,  salinity  and  pollution  control  etc.  National  Water  Development  Agency  (NWDA)  under  the Ministry of Jal Shakti has identified 16 links under Peninsular Rivers Component and 14 links under Himalayan Component for inter basin transfer.

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