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Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Minister of Water Resources has observed that India’s prosperity would well depend on how best we would be able to manage the water resources to meet ever-expanding demands. “For the inter-basin water transfer proposals to see the light, what is required is thorough understanding of the issues, mutual cooperation to tackle them and political will to overcome the hurdles”, he informed. The Ministry of Water Resources practices a policy of consensus – consensus at all levels; technical and political, he added. He was addressing the consultative committee meeting of the Members of Parliament attached to the Ministry of Water Resources here today. Shri Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav, Minister of State for Water Resources, Member of Parliament S/Shri S.P.V. Reddy, Prasanta Pradhan, Mrs. N. P. Durga, R.S. Shakya, Gyan Prakash Pilania, Parshuram Majhi and Hiten Burman, Shri J. Hari Narayan, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and senior officials were also present at the meeting.
Apprising the members present on the giant strides made by India in the field of irrigation since Independence, the Water Resources Minister informed that the irrigation area has increased from 22 million hectare to over 100 million hectare. However India has a long way to go in view of rise in population and it would be necessary to bring more and more area under irrigation using all the possible developmental strategies in the field of water resources and management. The Minister further informed that as per the studies by National Water Development Agency (NWDA), Brahmaputra, Ganga, Mahanadi, Godavari and West flowing rivers originating from the Western Ghats are surplus in water resources at certain points and if we can build water storage reservoirs on these rivers at suitable locations and connect them to other parts of the country, we can reduce the regional imbalances in the availability of water significantly and draw potential benefits of additional irrigation, domestic and industrial water supply, hydropower generation and navigational facilities.
The Water Resources Minister apprised the members present that NWDA was set up in July, 1982 to study in detail the feasibility for various link proposals envisaged in the NPP. NWDA has already studied in depth water balance studies of various river basins, especially in the Peninsular Component of NPP, to establish water surplus and deficit regions. Based upon these studies 30 links have been identified by NWDA for preparation of feasibility reports. Out of this, feasibility studies for 16 links have already been completed and balance is in progress. Preparation of Detailed Project Reports of these links is the next stage awaiting to happen.
“All reports of NWDA, be it Water Balance or Pre-Feasbility Reports, have been subject of discussion in the NWDA’s Technical Advisory Committee, where all stake holder States are represented. The views of States have been taken into confidence, their cooperation is sought and obtained,” the Water Resources Minister informed.
Discussions have also been held with the States concerned with our priority links and links have been identified in Ken-Betwa, Parbati-Kalisindh-Chamba, Polavaram-Vijayawada, Par-Tapi-Narmada Link and Damanganga – Pinjal link for initiating action for consensus building under Peninsular Component. Tangible progress has also been made in respect of two links, namely Ken-Betwa and Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal. The two State Governments concerned with the Ken-Betwa link – Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh – have conveyed their consent, subject to certain conditions, for taking up studies to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR). Now the Memorandum of Understanding between the two States are required to the signed, which is expected to materialize shortly. The Government of Madhya Pradesh have conveyed their consent for preparing DPR in respect of Parbati – Kalisingh – Chambal link. Discussions with the other States concerned with the link, i.e. the Government of Rajasthan, for giving consent for the DPR are also underway.
Shri Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav, Minister of State for Water Resources informed the members present that the, Government has laid stress on interlinking of rivers and UPA Government’s priority on linking of peninsular rivers is being done in a consultative manner. Stress is also being laid on exploring possibilities for interlinking of sub-basin rivers in Bihar. NWDA has already taken the work for exploring such possibilities. A meeting in this regard was held on 26th July, 2005 between the officials of NWDA and Bihar Government Water Resources Department and after consultations, Bihar Government has agreed to send their suggestions within two months.
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