Lok Sabha Question No. 1748 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Accumulation of River Silts
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Joyanta Basumatary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1748

ANSWERED ON 05.12.2024

## ACCUMULATION OF RIVER SILTS

## 1748.    SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that all rivers like Aie, Beki, Manas, Darrang, Sankosh etc. are full of silts due to flood flash and heavy rocks from foothills of Bhutan;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard;

(c)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  there  is  heavy  scarcity  of  potable  water  in  the  said  region  due  to  huge accumulation of silts in the rivers; and

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken/likely to be taken by the Government to meet this challenge?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) Yes, a number of trans-border rivers flowing from Bhutan to India carry a significant quantity of river silts during flood season.

(b) To  discuss  and  assess  the  probable  causes  and  effects  of  the  recurring  floods  and  erosion  in  the southern  foothills  of  Bhutan  and  adjoining  plains  in  India  and  recommend  to  both  the  Governments, appropriate  and  mutually  acceptable  remedial  measures,  a  Joint  Group  of  Experts  (JGE)  on  Flood Management  headed  by  Commissioner  (B&B),  D/o  WR,  RD  &  GR  was  constituted  between  India  and Bhutan in 2004. Ten meetings of JGE have been held so far.

A Joint Technical Team (JTT) on Flood Management between the two Countries was also constituted to assist JGE by carrying out field survey and site visits to some of the areas of concern referred to it by JGE. The JTT is presently carrying out studies related to assessment of sediment load and its impact on rivers and also propose remedial measures in respect of Manas, Dhansiri and Puthimari rivers entering from Bhutan into Assam, and Pugli, Rethi, and Sukriti rivers entering from Bhutan into West Bengal.

Further, a National Framework for Sediment Management (NFSM) has been notified in January,2023 by DoWR, RD & GR, MoJS. Its emphasis is on reducing silt generation rather than silt removal and promote technological innovations & best practices. Further, it will provide overall guidance to States/UTs on various aspects of sediment management, handling issues of sediment management in integrated & scientific manner

and use of different approaches of sediment management in a river basin. It also includes relevant references of existing guidelines/notifications issued by departments/ministries of central agencies.

In  addition,  Assam  Water  Resources  Department  has  taken  up  various  schemes  to  tackle  the  flash flood due to heavy silt and rise in bed level of Aie, Beki, Manas, Darang and Sankosh rivers. The list of the schemes  taken  up  by  the  Assam  Water  Resources  Department  since  2021-22  to  2024-25  is  appended herewith at Annexure .

(c) & (d)   ' Water' is a state subject and therefore, the primary responsibility for planning and implementing piped water supply schemes to provide tap water to rural households and management of water in urban areas lies with the respective State/UT government.

To  ensure  potable  water  supply  to  all  rural  households,  since  August  2019,  Government  of  India,  in partnership with States/UTs, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The aim of the Mission is to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household in adequate quantity (55 Ipcd), of prescribed quality (BIS  10500)  and  on  a  regular  and  long-term  basis.  Government  of  India  supplements  the  efforts  of States/UTs  by  providing  technical  and  financial  assistance  under  JJM.  Further,  as  informed  by  State Government of Assam, there are abundant ground and surface water sources; however, the challenge lies in ensuring the quality of water supplied through tap connections.

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## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1748 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.12.2024 REGARDING 'ACCUMULATION OF RIVER SILTS'.

## SCHEMES TAKEN BY WRD, ASSAM IN RIVERS AIE, MANAS, DARRANGA, BEKI, SANKOSH

(Rupees in Lakhs)

|   Sl No | HoA                     | Name of Division   | Name of river   | Name of Scheme                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |   Estimated cost |
|---------|-------------------------|--------------------|-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|
|       1 | SOPD-FDR 2021-22        | Chirang            | Aie             | A/E measures to protect the village Debargaon from the erosion of river Aie on R/B.                                                                                                                                                               |            49.98 |
|       2 | NIDA                    | Bongaigaon         | Aie             | Protection of the D/S area of Bashbari bazar by pro-siltation measures against the oblique thrust of river Aie.                                                                                                                                   |           190    |
|       3 | SOPD-FDR 2021-22        | Barpeta            | Manas           | Protection of Bartari and its adjoining area from the erosion of river Manas.                                                                                                                                                                     |           331.92 |
|       5 | NEC                     | Baska              | Darranga        | Anti-Erosion measures to protect B/B of river Darranga at different reaches.                                                                                                                                                                      |           495.73 |
|       6 | World Bank aided AIRBMP | Barpeta&Baksa      | Beki            | Construction & Upgradation of river works along the Beki river to reduce river erosion risk                                                                                                                                                       |         14308    |
|       7 | World Bank aided AIRBMP | Barpeta&Baksa      | Beki            | Construction and upgrading of river works along the Beki River for reducing flood and river erosion risk (Emergency protection works at Chunbari, Maithabari, Nepalibasti, Biharibasti, Barobasti& U/S of GobardhanaSatra, Katajhar and Kaurjahi) |          2973    |
|       8 | FMBAP                   | Chirang            | Aie             | Protection of villages Durgapur, Dababeel, Chotonilibari, Debargaon, Dangaigaon, Bhirengaon, Bherbheri, Rowmari, Khagrabari, Sanyashiguri, Uttar Popragaon and Popragaon from the erosion of river Aie (R/B).                                     |         11594.4  |
|       9 | SOPD-G- 2023-24         | Barpeta            | Beki            | Protection of Khudnabari area from the erosion of river Beki on its L/B.                                                                                                                                                                          |           177.58 |
|      10 | SOPD-G- 2023-24         | Kokrajhar          | Sonkosh         | Anti-erosion measures to protect village Simlabari F V and its adjoining areas from the erosion of river Sonkosh on L/B.                                                                                                                          |           198    |
|      11 | SOPD-G- 2023-24         | Kokrajhar          | Sonkosh         | A/E measures to protect at Bagdogra village and its adjoining areas from the erosion of river Sonkosh on its L/B.                                                                                                                                 |           199    |
|      12 | SOPD-G- 2023-24         | Barpeta            | Beki            | Protection of Kurakur bridge approach at Showpur from the erosion of river Beki on its R/B.                                                                                                                                                       |           172    |

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