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Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Minister of Water Resources has informed that for the year 2005-06, an allocation of more than Rs.230 crore has been made for flood control, which is much more than the amount provided during last year. In addition to this, an amount of Rs.108 crore has been kept for allocation to the States to be released through the Ministry of Finance, he added. Informing that the jurisdiction of Farakka Barrage has been extended for speedy implementation of schemes in its jurisdiction, the Minister informed that another scheme for taking up critical flood control and anti-erosion schemes in the North-Eastern states has also been approved at an estimated cost of Rs.150 crore to be implemented in the State sector. A scheme amounting to Rs.41.28 crore has been approved for the protection of Majuli Island and the work is being executed through Brahmaputra Board, he informed. The Minister was addressing the consultative committee meeting of the Ministry of Water Resources here today. Shri Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, Minister of State for Water Resources, Shri Hari Narayan, Secretary Water Resources, Shri S.P.Y. Reddy, MP, Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmaria, MP, Shri Mohammad Muqueem, MP, Shri K.Subbarayan, MP, Dr. Gyan Prakash Pilania, MP, Smt. N.P. Durga and Senior Officials of the Ministry of Water Resources were also present at the meeting.
Informing the members present about the status of International Cooperation in water related issues, Shri Dasmunsi stated that the 2nd Secretary level meeting of India – Nepal Joint Committee on Water Resources which took place in October, 2004 had agreed that feasibility study of Kamla and preliminary study of Bagmati Multipurpose Projects could also be carried out by the Joint Project Office which has already been set up for survey and investigations of the Sapta Koso – Sun Kosi projects to ascertain the likely constraints in implementation of these projects so that these could be appropriately addressed. As a follow up to the Secretary level talks in Beijing last month, an MOU may be signed during the forthcoming visit of Hon’ble Premier of China in April 2005 to cover enhanced cooperation for river Sutlej, he informed.
Shri Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, Minister of State for Water Resources in his address to the committee informed that financial assistance to the Ganga Basin States as well as North-eastern States to take up critical flood control and anti-erosion schemes an amount of Rs.316.14 crore has been recommended as an immediate measure to be taken before the arrival of flood season. Drawing the attention of those present, the Minister of State observed that the flood proofing programme needs special focus in Bihar and efforts are under way to continue this important programme in the remaining part of the 10th plan and beyond. “It would be worthwhile that a Board similar to Sikkim and North Bengal River Management Board is appropriately constituted to tackle problems of Ganga Basin”, the Minister of State stressed. The drainage condition due to floods is another area which needs to be tackled on priority as acres of fertile low lying lands are submerged due to spills from rivers during the monsoon season. The Ministry has already taken up the scheme for improvement of drainage in critical areas of the country at an estimated cost of Rs.54.57 crores with 49.62 crores as Central Assistance, he informed. The Minister of State for Water Resources impressed on the need to further expand this scheme to such critical areas which are facing huge drainage problems due to floods.
Shri S.P.Y. Reddy, MP, called for tackling the problems of encroachment of land along the rivers and called for looking into the feasibility of power generation from Brahmaputra. To a query from Mrs. N.P. Durga, MP, on the allocation for drainage for Andhra Pradesh, Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi informed that Rs.5.46 crore is the allocation and Rs.1.5 crore has already been released in 2004-05. Shri Prasanna Pradhan, MP and Dr. R.Kusmaria, MP, brought out the problems and issues relating to rivers within a state which causes problems and stressed on the need for a proper survey for formulation of appropriate strategies. Shri Mohd. Maqueem stressed on the need to survey rivers bordering Nepal for coming out with effective strategies for dealing with flood related problems. Dr. Gyan Prakash, MP called for devising a suitable monitoring mechanism to ensure for the allocation by Central Government to the States are utilised in a fully transparent manner.
Concluding the consultative committee meeting Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi informed that looking at problems of depleting ground water, the agenda for next consultative committee meeting is proposed to be on issues relating to “Ground Water”.
RKJ/AM
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