LOK SABHA ___

SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______

Monday, July 21, 2014 / Ashadha 30, 1936 (Saka) ______

*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377

(i) DR. SWAMI SAKSHIJI MAHARAJ laid a statement regarding

need to close slaughter-houses in Unnao Parliamentary Constituency,

Uttar Pradesh.

(ii) SHRI SUBHASH CHANDRA BAHERIA laid a statement

regarding need to expedite construction of National Highways

announced during the tenure of the previous Government.

(iii) SHRI GANESH SINGH laid a statement regarding need to provide

adequate compensation to the farmers, whose fields have been used to

install high tension towers by power Grid Corporation of India

Limited.

(iv) SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR laid a statement regarding need

to expedite the setting up of Hydro Engineering College, at Bilaspur,

Himachal Pradesh.

* Laid on the Table as directed by the Speaker. (v) SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH laid a statement regarding need to

provide information to MPs about construction of roads under

PMGSY and seek their opinion.

(vi) SHRI BIRENDRA KUMAR CHOUDHARY laid a statement

regarding need to include Bhojpuri language in the Eighth Schedule to

the Constitution.

(vii) SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO laid a statement regarding need

to expedite the construction work of N.H. No.33 and to check the

quality of its construction.

(viii) SHRI RAVNEET SINGH laid a statement regarding need to

expedite construction of the stretch of National Highway between

Panipat and Jalandhar and stop collections toll tax on this Highway till

its completion.

(ix) SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR Laid a statement regarding need to

find an amicable solution to Chars (river Islands) in Jharkhand.

(x) SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN laid a statement regarding need to effect

roll back of toll hike charged from users of National Highway No.46

in Tamil Nadu.

(xi) SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB laid a statement regarding need

to declare Gopalpur and Dhamra Ports in Odisha as immigration

points for the purpose of embarkation and dis-embarkation. (xii) SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV laid a statement regarding need to

provide transport facility and develop the Lonar Crater in Buldhana

Parliamentary Constituency as a tourist place.

(xiii) SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO laid a statement

regarding need to review the new format for IIT selection.

(xiv) SHRI SHAILESH KUMAR laid a statement regarding need to

expedite the construction of National Highway No.106.

(xv) SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR laid a statement regarding need to take

immediate steps to repair National Highway No.31 from Purnia to

Islampur.

(xvi) SHRI JOSE K. MANI laid a statement regarding need to set up a

university for studies on rubber cultivation and product development

research in the country.

BUDGET (GENERAL) -2014-15

DEMANDS FOR GRANTS – 2014-15

Ministry of Water Resources

SHRI GAURAV GOGOI initiating said: The Union Government‟s

Budget of 2014-15 has taken some considerable measures. The Accelerated

Irrigation benefits and flood management programme has received Rs.8,992 crore; the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojana has received Rs.1,000 crore; budget allocated to the North East has been Rs.1,474 crore. So far as Ganga is concerned,

Ganga is one of the holiest rivers in the world. But is also a fact that there are 250 industries which dump their pollutants on this river. So, we have collectively failed to address the issue of Ganga. Since 1985, various Ganga conservation projects have taken place whether it is the Ganga Action Plan No.1, Ganga Action

Plan No.2, the National Ganga River Basin Authority. Close to Rs.7,000 crore has been spent and 1,441 sewage treatment plants have been made. So, I would urge the Government that before it embarks upon another huge Mission, there should be a careful assessment of what has worked in the past and what has not worked. So far as rejuvenation of the Ganga is concerned, we must ensure that this process is democratic and involves that voices of all the stakeholders. I am saying so because in the recently held Ganga Manthan democratic processes and stakeholders‟ consultations have been ignored. I want to say that it is unclear as to what is the objective of this Government when it comes to the Ganga. They talk about inland water transport and, at the same time, they talk about beautification of ghats. All of this is not possible because when you have large-scale industrial projects, how can you ensure that the Ganga will remain `nirmal‟. The Budget has also not indicated what steps will be taken to clean the River Ganga. With its large focus on the River Ganga, my concern is that other functions of the Ministry of Water

Resources have been diluted or severely compromised. As it has been said that this is a drought year, the western States of India will receive minimal precipitation. But this Union Budget has not indicated any measures as to what the

Government will do in such a scenario. On Dam Safety Studies, this Budget has given `zero‟ money. Though the Government has announced the scheme of

Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Management of Rs.8992 crore but there are several areas in Assam and West Bengal where the ground-water is contaminated. In such a situation, I want to know what this Government has done for ground water contamination. This Ministry has forgotten to care of other rivers of the country.

For instance, it has forgotten that lakhs of land in Assam have been lost due to erosion by the river Brahmaputra. I urge all MPs across the political lines that we must tell this Government that we need to hold and constitute a Brahmaputra River

Valley Authority to solve this issue. There has been a lot of concern that China is constructing a lot of hydro-power projects on the river Brahmaputra. In order to protect our water security, we must ensure that the projects on river Brahmaputra are completed on time.

SHRIMATI BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY: The Brahmaputra is a very wide river. It has been continuously going on in this way. But what has the earlier

Government done in the sixty years for the people of Assam and North-Eastern

Region? People are still languishing in floods. They are seriously in trouble because of huge erosion. Water is a finite product. That is the most serious problem for the people and the country. We should think of taking the surplus water to those areas where the water is scare or where there is no water at all. I appreciate our hon. Prime Minister for creating a separate Ministry for river Ganga and taking serious plans to clear the Ganga of its pollutants. India needs a lot of water ways for local trade and travel. We must take this up seriously. For want of digging river beds became shallow. That is why even a slightest rainfall leads to floods in almost all the rivers of the country. It is especially so in my part of the country Assam, in both Barak Valley and Brahmaputra Valley. Secondly, pollution is the major problem of rivers and other water bodies of the country.

Using most modern technology we should clean the pollutants from the drains that flow into different rivers in various cities, which carry the industrial effluents.

Otherwise, the river cannot be made pure. Thirdly, facilities have to be provided for special festivals. There are a lot of festivals along the river banks, which also create pollution. The people of Guwahati are now reeling under artificial flood whereby nearly five lakh people are affected. It is because of the nature of the unplanned work. There is no road where one can work and communication has also completed collapsed. So the hon. Minister should take care of this point.

During the NDA period, nearly Rs.750 crore had been sanctioned for Pagladia

Project. Due to the non-cooperation of the previous Government, that project had not been taken up; they spent a few crores of rupees and that is the end of it. Had that project been materialized, then most of the problems of that area would have been sorted out. The Brahmaputra Board has been completely defunct now. The hon. Minister will surely see to it that it is made workable. During NDA Government thousands of crores were given for the AIDP schemes. Nobody knows where the fund has vanished. Similarly, a fund was created for different embankments, especially for the Brahmaputra embankment. For the last 50 years no work has been done and as a result of a lot of area in Assam is under heavy flood and heavy erosion. Another major source of water is the ground water. It is also a depleting source. We know that poverty and illiteracy both contribute to the contamination of the water be it ground water or surface water. So, careful dealing is necessary in this regard. I hope under the able leadership of the hon. Prime

Minister as well as the hon. Minister of Water Resources and with the guidance of everyone, there will be a kind of revolution of water resources. It can be done with care, management and right kind of use of our water resources in the country.

SHRI R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN: Under Namami Ganga Scheme, an amount of Rs. 2037 Crore has been allocated in the Budget for resuscitating

Ganges. Moreover 100 Crores are allotted for improving the Ghats of Ganges.

Union government should allot funds for cleaning all the rivers and riverine systems of the country including the rivers from Tamil Nadu. There should be special allocation of funds for improving Ghats of the rivers of Tamil Nadu. Rain- water harvesting scheme should be implemented throughout the nation.

Agricultural pond scheme (pannai kuttai) benefits the farmers in large scale , so, this scheme should be implement throughout the country. For irrigation and flood management, 7729 Crore rupees have been earmarked in this Budget. Under the Prime Minister agricultural irrigation scheme 950 Crore rupees have been allocated for the States. I demand that additional funds should be allotted to Tamil Nadu under these Schemes. Initially an amount of Rs.100 Crore has been allocated in

Budget for preparing detailed reports about river-water sharing. I want to further expedite the process of Inter-linking of rivers. There are many lakes and dams in

Tamil Nadu and for their renovation additional funds are needed. Adequate funds should be allotted to Tamil Nadu for the farmer oriented water resources programmes of Tamil Nadu. Additional funds should be earmarked for water resources programmes of Tamil Nadu as per the demands of Hon‟ble Amma. Also,

Cauvery Management Board should be set up immediately. During the period between 2007-2014 farmers of Cauvery delta have been affected. Around 5 lakh hectares of agricultural land remain uncultivated due to lack of water. Food grain losses amounted to 2000 crore per year. Cauvery Management Authority should be set up immediately as per the orders of Cauvery River Water Tribunal. The concerns about financial and food grain losses to the Tamil Nadu Government should be duly addressed. Alongwith Allocation of Rs. 2000 crore, as MLA Local

Area Development Fund, an additional MPLAD funds should be allocated to parliamentary constituencies including Mayiladuthurai. Government should construct and provide an office in all the parliamentary constituencies including

Mayiladuthurai. DR. RATNA (NAG) DE: Water has become an important issue in the country with scarcity level going up every given day, particularly in the peak summer. Allocations made for the Ministry of Water Resources is paltry in nature and would not help in furthering the interests of the projects. For example, Rs.100 crore is provided for Detailed Project Reports for linking of rivers. How can you go about with a meager Rs.100 crore in this regard? Rs.100 crore has been provided for the development and beautification of Ghats in Haridwar, Varanasi and Delhi. With too much dirty and filth, how can you manage to beautify and develop so many Ghats. Though it looks fanciful to learn about NRI Fund for

Ganga, we cannot say how it would finally turn out. A sum of Rs.1,100 crore has been the outlay for development of major and medium irrigation. I demand more allocation should be made under this head. A token sum of Rs.410 crore has been allocation for minor irrigation which includes ground water management and regulation, infrastructure development, etc. It looks the Government is facing financial crunch by allocating token money for such important heads under the

Ministry. Rs.448 crore has been allocated for flood control. With such a meager amount, how can the Centre assist the States which face the brunt of floods every year? More funds should be allocated for flood control. Otherwise, States like

West Bengal would suffer the most as we receive not even 10 per cent of what demand. I would strongly urge the hon. Minister to give special emphasis on resolving the water issues between States; and in the case of West Bengal, there is a need to resolve the water dispute with Bangladesh when it comes to sharing of common rivers including Teesta river on equitable and fair basis.

SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY: Water remains one of the most abundant resources on earth. But globally, it is said that only about two percent of it is available for human consumption. In 1998 – the then Prime Minister Shri Atal

Bihari Vajpayee had said that future wars may be fought over water and we saw many conflicts within this country like the Cauvery water dispute, Polavaram water dispute etc. We have had many disputes within this Sub-continent on water.

As populations expand and economies grow, this competitive demand for water by agriculture, by large habitats like cities, but most importantly by industries is obviously going to become more and more acute. Despite shortages of water, its misuse is widespread and, as I travel in rural areas of my State, I notice that in the greed for real estate, many villages have filled up age old ponds, small rivulets and streams. I understand that water is a State Subject, but the Centre has a role in planning water usage and resolving conflicts on water sharing amongst States. In my State 11 major and medium irrigation projects are in progress through AIBP funding. During the years 2012-13 and 2013-14, the State Government had spent

Rs.1,709 crore. The Central Water Commission (CWC) recommended for Central assistance to the tune of Rs.639 crore only. But, sadly, the federal Government has thought it fit to only sanction Rs.14,82 crore which has been released till now. I would like to quote about Polavaram Project which is a major irritant for the people of my State. Raising the height of the d am would definitely damage the interests of the people of Orissa esp. tribals. Water from the Polavaram Project actually will not be used much for agriculture. About 92 per cent of water from

Polavaram is destined to end up in and around Visakhapatnam to supply not only fresh water to that city but to supply water to the industries and the SEZs that are proposed to be built up around the city. The development of the East-Cost Canal has been completely stopped because it is this Budget there is absolutely no mention of that canal. Finally, I would like to state here that I have complete and unabounding mistrust on the linking of rivers project. The Ganga may be linked to another river. I have no objections to that. But all of us are not dependent on the

Ganga. The Ganga holds no meaning to my people. There are so many people; there are so many languages; there are so many cultures; and so diverse is this nation that let us not focus ourselves on to one river, one religion and one language. It will destroy the beauty of our diversity. We should think of our nation as a whole and march ahead as one united India.

SHRI ARVIND SAWANT: Let me start with the present scenario where there is a lot of scarcity of water. With the shadow of the El Nino looming over the Indian monsoon, there are legitimate concerns about its likely impact on agriculture production and consequently the prices of food products. You must have heard about the global warming. Rain water is the main resource of fresh water. The second source is the melting glaciers which provide water to our rivers. People are leaving farming. I want to bring one aspect to the notice of the

Government regarding which intense debate is going on all over the world. It is being said that in 2025 there will be immense scarcity of water in various parts of the country. This situation will assume alarming proportion. 46 per cent of water samples in capital city of Delhi when checked was found to be unfit for human consumption. There are about 2 lakh schools in the country without drinking water. In view of the increasing population and increasing demands for irrigation, the scientists have warned that by 2025 two-third of the world would suffer from water scarcity. There will be a war for water and it is bound to happen if we do not take preventive measures instead of going in for remedial measures only.

Estimated water requirement by 2025 is 1.93 lakh cubic meters. Supply of drinking water has been curtailed in Mumbai. In such a situation, we have to save each drop of water. I commend the Government regarding the National Ganga

River Basin. There is a plan outlay of Rs.1,500 crore for National River

Conservation Plan. I welcome this. But, its implementation has not been done within the prescribed time. Konkan receives maximum rainfall in Maharashtra.

But the rivers dry up in March. Next year, Nasik will host Singhasta Kumbh on river Godavari. I request the Government to do the same thing for Godavari that they are doing for Ganga on priority basis as lakhs of people would gather there and pollute the river. *SHRI N. KRISTAPPA: The water problem in Hindupur of Anantpur district is so acute that it cannot be expressed. There are around 3000 villages in my constituency and the people's only demand from State or Central Government is to provide drinking water. They don't have any other demand. Due to scarcity of water wild animals in forests are destroying farm lands in search of water. We can well imagine the situation faced by common people. Rayalaseema districts,in particular Anantpur district and Hindupur constituency should be provided with solutions to drinking water problems. The district is facing severe drought for the last 3 years. Ground water levels has depleted. I spent around Rs. 11 crores out of

Rs. 19 crores allocated under MPLADS funds for drinking water. There is no water even after boring 1000 feet deep. The central government should immediately appoint a committee to study the situation in our region and suggest the Minister of water resources, probable solutions to the water problems prevailing there.

Accordingly, funds may be allocated to find a solution to the problem.

SHRIMATI ANJU BALA: Garra River meets river Ganga near

Sadhiyapur village in Bilgram-Mallawan area, which increases the current of water frightening proportion in this area. This leads to flooding of hundreds of villages inhabited on the bank of Ganga stretching from Sadhiyapur village to Gatripurva village in Unna district. Around fifty villages have lost their existence due to land erosion owing to flow of water. This serious problem of flood should be solved by constructing embankment on the bank of river Ganga.

* Original in Telugu SHRI PRASANNA KUMAR PATASANI: Every year our state is facing lot of flood, natural calamities and disasters where thousands acres of land is damaged and recent Phylin caused heavy disaster in our state. I request to Hon'ble

Minister to include Mahanadi with Rusikulya, Rusikulya with Banshadhara to save the life of people who are leading a miserable life under the marooned areas.

Heavy loss of paddy fields could be saved. Every year the paddy fields are marooned because of over water under Bolgarha and Begunia under Kurda Block

Lekhanpur, Golbai, Nirakaropura and Rameshwar panchayat and Orabarsingh,

Masania, Narangarh, shradhapur panchayats are every year drowned with green paddy fields and at the same time another block named Tangi-Busandpur, Refugee colony, Balipatpur, Sunderpur paddy fields are drowned out of flood water. At the same time under Jaidev constituency the Balipatna and Balianta blocks the green paddy fields are damaged every year. Funds should be provided to assist the state government each highly solicited to protect the green lands out of flood. In the rainy season with heavy waters from Chilka damaging the livelihood of poor fishermen and downtrodden. So heavy grants of money or allocation from the central government to protect the life and property of poor fishermen and agriculturists. To control the heavy floods immediately sufficient allocation of money to be granted in the budget to start the construction work of Brutanga under

Nayagarh district. The famous Hirakud dam which facilitated in controlling heavy floods and helping for irrigation must be protected. SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA: The vision of veteran leader Hon'ble Atalji was that the rivers of India must be linked with one another. His dream is going to come true in this country. In this country there are some parts which are affected by the drought and on the other side some are affected by floods. The river grid is a solution for these major problems of our country. For the desert of Rann like Rajasthan, there is a scheme for the Union

Grant in which help of the Central grant is 90% to the state to construct a canal etc.

SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN: In our country some parts had always been suffering from drought and some part from heavy rains causing floods. By the linking of rivers, this problem of our country is going to be solved. By linking, drinking water problem can also be solved.

SHRI KADIYAM SRIHARI: The present nomenclature, that is, the

Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation should be changed to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Water

Conservation. You please include the words „Water Conservation‟. My second suggestion is that you please come out with a comprehensive policy on utilization of river waters and sanctioning of the projects on inter-State rivers. Projects are being delayed just because of inter-State disputes, court litigations and financial constraints. Efforts in respect of ground water recharge methods, water harvesting structures, water management methods, water conservation methods, protection and improvement of smaller water bodies like tanks, construction of check-dams, rivulets, barrage, and rivers should be encouraged. Inter-linking of rivers should take place only after fulfilling and satisfying the river basin requirements. All the issues relating to use, distribution or control of water occurring within the Krishna

River Basin be re-examined to protect the interests of newly found state of

Telangana because Telangana has had no opportunity to present its case before

KWDT-I and II. Design of Polavaram project should be changed so that the displacement of Adivasis could be prevented. Pranahita Chevella Project be declared as a national project. More funds for the projects under AIBP and PMRP in Telangana be allocated.

SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY: In 2013, the Central Ground water Board has prepared a Master Plan for Artificial Recharge of Groundwater by harnessing surplus monsoon runoff to augment the groundwater resources. I would like to know from the hon. Minister at what stage the implementation is and what further efforts are being made by the Minister in this regard. The Ministry should be prepared to meet any eventuality arising out of monsoon deficit which is roughly estimated to be around 43 per cent. The National Water Mission should aim at better management of the resources, besides provision of adequate funds.

The Government must make concerted efforts to meet the targets of the

Millennium Development Goals. In terms to total sanitation campaign, the progress remains far from satisfactory. The maintenance of the Farakka Barrage constructed in the 1970s was found to be inadequate. I would urge the Government to not only allocate sufficient funds for the purpose but also explore the possibility of including it under “Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme” for improving the safety and the operational performance. The original date of completion of the Project was some time in 1986. The huge delay resulted in 2,200 per cent jump in cost overruns. I would only urge the hon. Minister of Water

Resources to pay special attention to this project and request the Ministry to complete this project as well as the Subrnrekha Barrage Project on a topmost priority basis. Around eight district in West Bengal are badly affected by the presence of arsenic in groundwater. The Government should come out with a comprehensive national plan for containing the alarming trend of groundwater contamination in the country. I would urge the Government to monitor the works in the Cyclone Aila affected areas very closely and extend necessary assistance to complete the reconstruction of embankments and other protection works without any further delay. The Government should come out with a comprehensive Anti-

Erosion Programme in order to address the problem of large-scale displacement of people and also to arrest the marginalisation of the rural communities living along the Padma and the Bhagirathi River. I would request the hon. Minister to release adequate funds to address this serious problem of erosion. I would urge upon to consider the setting up of Gang-Bhagirathi Board like Bhramoputro board for its lasting solution. Gangasagar should also be given due importance like other religious place in India. I would like to know whether the Government has prepared any blueprint on how it is going to accomplish the ambitious task of developing the Ganga as a major waterway and within what timeframe? Secondly,

I would also like to know whether the Government has any other proposal to develop other waterways in the country.

SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI: Water harvesting will help the poor farmers to irrigate their farms. CSIR under Department of Agriculture has not so far developed any new technique regarding rain water harvesting. There is river system in my Parliamentary constituency but dams and canals are not being repaired and renovated due to which there is no timely availability of water from these canals. Irrigation is mainly done from surface water and ground water.

Surface water is used for irrigation only 35 to 40 per cent, it can be enhanced by 60 per cent. Natural disasters can be averted with the facilities of irrigation projects.

There are many rivers coming in India from Nepal and Myanmar and these rivers are on spats in rainy days in many parts of the country. We can use this water for generating electricity and irrigation. I want to know whether the government have talked to foreign government regarding hydro-power project. What was the result?

The government have started many schemes for hydropower project but generation has been disappointment. I request from hon‟ble Minister that he should resolve water problem.

SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN: More funds be provided by the

Central Government to implement the recommendations of Pritam Singh Committee and Keshav Committee to control the problem of recurring floods and erosion in West Bengal. I would urge the Central Government to find a permanent solution to the problem of erosion along the embankment of the River

Ganga in Malda and Murshidabad Districts. I would also request the Government to solve the problem of rehabilitation of poor people displaced by erosion in the

Ganga and Bhagirathi rivers. Teesta Barrage Project should be completed as early as possible in the interest of the country by allocating sufficient fund. In some district of West Bengal, the underground water is contaminated by poisonous arsenic. I would urge the Government to allot funds to supply arsenic-free surface water in the affected areas of the state.

SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA: I would request the Government to provide adequate funds under the Irrigation Schemes to tap more groundwater resources by energizing the existing wells as well as by encouraging the farmers to go for irrigation bores for better farming. I urge the Government on behalf of my

State Andhra Pradesh to provide adequate funds so as to accomplish the long cherished dream of the people of Andhra Pradesh, the Polavaram project, which has been declared as a national project. Many other projects like Gumadi Gudda reservoir, Thotapalli project are not being projected due to the lack of funds.

Hence, I request the Government to kindly consider the State of Andhra Pradesh on top priority basis which has fertile lands and create drinking water facilities and also the irrigation projects. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: We need to rise above party politics to fulfill our commitment to voters to meet their water requirements. The first thing for this purpose is that we really need to do is decentralize all our sources water to help all the States to use their water whichever they want to do it. The entire debate is how are we going to share the water. So, I think water assessment, mapping of the water is the most important step. Urbanization is posing a new challenge of water contamination before us. The second big issue that is challenging all of us is the ground water problem. We need to have a national policy on bore well to tackle this problem. We need to emulate the successful model of water improvement like Shirpur pattern to improve the water situation at the national level. The other great intervention is the rain water harvesting. The ground water goes up very quickly with rain water harvesting. Today we all want more dams.

But land acquisition is a huge problem. So far improving the ground water level and doing mini and micro irrigation projects, we can connect it to MGNREGA.

That way, the cost is less and people also will get good job opportunities. Today, contamination of water is one of the biggest challenges. We have got a very good water policy in the State of Maharashtra which we have just implemented in 2012 of stopping contamination of Water. This Maharashtra intervention can be brought to other States. I would request the hon. Minister to implement the Ganga Action

Plan like programmes for cleansing rivers like Godavari, Krishna and

Chandrabhaga etc. also. SHRI P. SRINIVASA REDDY: The people of Telangana, who eagerly awaited the announcement of according national project status to Pranahita-

Chevella in the budget, were left totally disappointed. I appreciate “Modern

Bhagirath incarnate” Shri Narendra Modi Ji, for having announced to launch

„Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sanchayee Yojana‟ with the motto of “Har Khet to Panni” and Government‟s initiative for developing a “Southern Water Grid” with 16 river linkages in different states. I request the government to expedite the process of inter Linking of Rivers in Telangana so as to enable to use the maximum surplus water from Godavari basin for irrigation needs. The Government should consider a special scheme to compensate crop loss by floods for the people Telangana. The

Government should provide more flood time shelters at safe places across the

Telangana. Aid from World Bank should be increased to 90 % for Nagararyun

Sagar. The Government has allocated Rs. 10,750 crore in Budget 2014-15 for

Accelerated Irrigation Benefit and Flood Management Programme which is a welcome step. Our Party‟s support will be there for every development work. I request the Government to allocate sufficient funds to address the problem of sedimentation in the Godavari river.

SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: The UPA Government announced the

Kuttanad Package during 2008 and started implementing the same in 2010. An additional budget support Rs.1,000 crore be made to complete the construction of flood mitigation works under Kuttanad Package, and the completion time also be extended for two more years. The farmers of Kuttanad are unable to start their cultivation due to the delay in the works for mitigation of flood water. Necessary approval for the projects and release of funds may be given immediately, and the time limit to complete the work may also be extended. Pamba-Achankovil-Vaipar

Link Project should not be allowed as it will prove disastrous for Kuttanad rice farming, and result in environmental degradation of Vembanad lake and Western

Ghats.

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA: By connecting various small and big rivers in Banda, Chitrakut district, drinking water and irrigation facilities will soon be available. A special scheme should be formulated to clean Mandakini river. Adequate funds should be made available for non-functional handpumps. To increase the water Level new scheme for constructing ponds and small dam should be started.

SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT: There is acute shortage of drinking water in the areas falling under dark zone. Water table has decreased there and tubewells have dried up. Farmers of these areas are facing the crisis of saving their livestock. My district Jhunjhunu has been declared as dark zone. The previous government has talked about construction of a canal there but its work has not been undertaken. The government should take steps to solve this crisis.

SHRI NITYANAND RAI: Even after 67 years of Independence, 43 crore people in the country are not getting safe drinking water. Irrigation facilities are also not available. When there are no irrigation facilities, people are bound to starve and live in poverty. They will remain helpless and cannot afford education.

Swami Vivekanand had predicted that no one will be without food and clothes, no one will be helpless and uneducated in the 21st century in India. One Narendra made this prediction while another is there to fulfill it. Inter-linking of the river

Ganga with other rivers will facilitate availability of Ganga water in other states of the country. The government has formulated such a plan for conservation, augmentation and management of water that we will be having enough water in future. We can assure the country and the world in this regard. I would urge the

Government to include Vidyapati Nagar as a major place under ‘Namami Gange’ programme.

SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI: Water is very essential commodity.

Stressed water is a challenge which all of us have to face. Eighty percent of water available is being used for agricultural purposes and 5-7% for domestic purposes and 8-10 % for industries. We should increase water table. Water should be recharged and water conservation should be done so that water table at all village level is increased and irrigation is made easy. River linking project of Ganga

Caveri should benefit my State, Karnataka. One pilot project be given in my constituency Haveri in Karnataka to lift water from rivers Tungabadhra and Varada to various lakes and ponds, so that farmers can enjoy the better agricultural benefit. SHRI TARIQ ANWAR: In our country, rivers are not only used for its water and power generation but people have religious faith also in it. Water is used for irrigation purpose also. Conservation of water is essential for us. In my constituency Katihar, Ganga, Mahananda, Kosi, Riga, Gandak etc. rivers passes from various blocks. Every year many villages get badly hit by floods by these rivers. Government need to pay immediate attention to save these blocks. Union

Government should pay special attention towards the strengthening of embankment. Effective steps should be taken to prevent displacement of local people of Katihar.

SHRI AKSHAY YADAV: The country is faced with a major water crisis.

Major portion of water is required for irrigation which is supplied by the rivers and rains. Scanty rainfall is all set to worsen this crisis this year. Excessive use of

Urea and DAP has contaminated the water. We should educate the people to stop further contamination of water. If the Central Government sanctions funds in time, various irrigation projects of Uttar Pradesh can be completed on time. The Ganga is major source of water in Uttar Pradesh. It should be prevented from pollution.

If the Central Government gives its support, the Government of Uttar Pradesh wants to provide safe drinking water in big cities like Agra.

SHRI P. R. SUNDARAM: Water resources play a vital role in the field of agriculture it intermingles itself in the development of a nation economically, socially, culturally. Water is a universal element and no one can claim ownership for the same. As per warnings of the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the EI Nino effect over the India subcontinent will be severe this year also.

Unusual rain and server hailstorms have affected several states in the country. The drought like situation exists in Tamil Nadu. The Government should concentrate all polluted rivers in the country and river disputes between states because to get the basic rights for usage of river water, our state needs resisting effort. The

Central government should bring the water issue under Central list as and ensure the availability water for irrigation to all states. The Government should reform the

National Lake Conservation Plan with inclusion large number of water bodies in the country and provide 100 % fund support to the state government to improve the existing water resources in the country. The Government should assist to the state of Tamil Nadu in linking all major rivers under the 12th Five Year Plan. The

Central Government should support some links like Pennaiyar to Palar, Cauvery

(Mattur Dam) to Sarabanga (Nammakkal), Athikadavu – Avinashi Canal, Cauvery to Gundar proposed by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The rain water harvesting is an important alternative system to combat water scarcity, drought like situation.

Drought mitigation measures should be launched on a war footing and in a sustainable manner and ground water recharging should given top priority in plan policies. The central government should instruct state governments to make rain water harvesting system mandatory in all existing and new structures. The government should give priority to interlinking of national rivers, conservation of water bodies, establishment of rain water harvesting system in all states, 100 % funding support for National Lake Conservation Programme and expansion of the same to all states.

SHRIMATI JAYSHREEBEN PATEL: India has only 4 percent water availability in terms of water resources. Thrust has been given upon a detailed strategy while considering the importance of water resources and provision of 100 crore rupees has been made to interlinking the rivers under the same as Ganges is our mother and source of life and it symbolizes cultural heritage and belief of

India. Speedy irrigation benefit project had been started in the country in the year

2006 and provision had been made to provide 90 percent central assistance to the famine affected area under the same. But the development of Runn area of the country had not been included therein. I request the Government to accept the demand of Gujarat in this regard. Due attention has been given on the development of originating places of our rivers and ghats. The provision of 100 crore rupees made for the development and beautification of ghats at Kedarnath, Haridwar,

Varanasi, Allahabad, Patna and Delhi is commendable.

SHRI RAMA KISHORE SINGH: Even after 67 years of Independence, we have not been able to provide safe drinking water to the people in the country.

Today, farmers are facing drought as well as flood which affects the economic, political and social aspects of the country. The present government is committed to cleaning of the River Ganga which is expected to bring relief to the entire country. Earlier, no project was sanctioned for Bihar though Bihar is one of the most backward states which is affected, at some places by floods and at some by drought. All these problems need serious attention and specially the states like

Bihar need special attention. The government wants to provide safe drinking water in the entire country through Nirmal Bharat Mission by the year 2022. This is a big challenge before us but we the people‟s representatives are ready to extend all support to the government.

SHRI PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA: Water resources is an important subject. The major problem of water is its pollution. Industrialisation has polluted all our water bodies. Industrialists should be compelled to established water treatment plants. Secondly, the wastage of water should be stopped. Only 750 billion cubic metre of 4000 billion cubic metre of rain water is used. More funds should be allocated to Punjab under Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana. Punjab government has submitted a Rs. 280 crore project. If this project is sanctioned, we will be able to prevent floods as well as put the water to use. Most of the area of my constituency Anandpur Sahib is hilly. The water does not flow upwards so funds are required for lift irrigation scheme. The desilting of water bodies should be under the Ministry of Water Resources because the Mines Department does not allow desilting.

SHRI SHAILESH KUMAR: The Ganga and Kosi rivers flow through my constituency Bhagalpur. People of my constituency are affected by the erosion due to these two rivers. On one hand people are affected by floods while on the other hand they are affected by drought. The projects are submitted by the state like those submitted under the GFCC during the last three years but they are not sanctioned by the Centre due to which the work is not executed. People are rendered homeless due to floods which changes their social status. I would urge the government to facilitate approval by the GFCC and ensure that the work starts on time in the month of January in the coming year. Renovation work is required everywhere like Bhagalpur, Jamui and Munger. Kahalgaon Irrigation Project is lying incomplete. All the projects should be completed. I would earnestly request the Government to save the people faced with erosion. The irrigation scheme at

Kahalgaon is lying half completed. The scheme forwarded by the GFCC should be implemented and construction of canal pilot channel should be completed for anti- erosion purpose.

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA SINGH: The entire Uttar Pradesh is inundated these days. Huge quantity of water has been released from Bhimgauda.

The Bairaj danger mark in Bijnor has been crossed creating a crisis situation in the whole area. The whole western Uttar Pradesh is facing a devastating flood. On one hand, our area faces flood and on the other, our entire area has been declared under the dark zone. Tube wells are there but power supply is not there. Erosion is another difficult problem. We would like that the studs should be constructed in line and in between dams should be constructed and their calibration is also a must. Due to construction of embankments on one side of the Sonali river and on

Uttarakhand side of the Ganga, the entire water is flowing down to Bijnore and

Purkaji area. I would request the Minister for construction of embankments on both sides of these rivers. Our national highway has been blocked because Irish bridges are being constructed at places. A bridge was under construction from

Bhikand in district Meerut to Dadatyana in district Bijnore but it has been stopped mid- way. The State Government says that there is a crunch of funds. The

Government should ensure completion of this bridge. Embankments should be erected on both sides of rivers to check the flow of water so as to protect the agricultural land and the poor people from devastation of their life and property.

The old rivers should be used as drainage canals. The Government should involve the participation of the local people‟s representatives in the formulation and the implementation of the schemes. I would request the Government to clear the pending projects pertaining to Uttar Pradesh. I would request the State

Government of Uttar Pradesh to act pro-actively to get the projects cleared from the Union Government as is being done by the Uttarakhand Government to check the floods.

SHRI H.D. DEVEGOWDA: The issue of linking the rivers was thought over by late Madam Gandhi and Shri K.L. Rao in 1972. Vajpayee ji‟s Government also appointed a Committee. Water is a God-given asset and wealth of the nation.

If any nation has to progress, it must, first of all, collectively take the responsibility to agree for linking the rivers. Drinking water is the first priority. But the other issues of sharing the surplus basin water for agriculture, power generation are there. If we use the Himalayan water then we can generate power which is not only sufficient for this country but we can also distribute excess power to other neighbouring nations. I am very much concerned about using this water. That is why I am telling that water should be declared as national wealth. We should use it for the prosperity of the nation.

SHRI DADDAN MISHRA: Shrawasti and Balrampur are the most backward districts of the state. The unirrigated land in these districts should be irrigated by stopping water of mountain rivulet and making dikes on it. The Rapti

Canal project financed by Central Government should be completed as early as possible to materialise the objectives. Atleast 100 special tubewells be installed through special kind of boring methods which are adopted in hilly areas. More and more handpumps and overhead tanks should be made available for our area.

KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV: The State of Assam is one of the most affected States due to erosion of River Barak and Brahmaputra. In my constituency, River Barak has caused huge damage along Silchar, Katigarah,

Borkuola and other areas. The damage is huge and there is a need for a special package to protect against erosion in Assam. It is also necessary study the flow of these rivers in order to control erosions. SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI: My Lok Sabha Constituency Lakhimpur

Khiri is very fertile from the point of view of agriculture, but for last four years it is badly affected by floods. Residential land along with agriculture land has faced high soil erosion. Drinking water of the area has become poisonous due to high contents of arsenic due to floods, which is causing serious diseases. I request the

Government that a comprehensive scheme should be made and work should be started at the earliest for the rivers of our country including Nepal to check the floods, and to save the farmers from losses and to attract them towards agriculture sector. The farmers whose land has eroded, houses have fallen due to floods, should be rehabilitated and compensation should be provided to these farmers whose crops has been damaged. A comprehensive scheme should be made to save people from diseases and to provide them pure drinking water.

SHRI HARINARAYAN RAJBHAR: In my parliamentary constituency,

Ghosi, Madhuban, Mohammadabad and Mau Sadar Assembly constituencies under

Mau District and Rasda & Belthara under District Balia, Uttar Pradesh are facing water crisis. Arsenic has been found in water in the above mentioned areas. The fund provided by the Government of India to Uttar Pradesh government for installing equipments to provide hygienic potable water is not reaching to the beneficiaries. Tamsa river in our area has been completely polluted. Concrete measures are to be taken to save it from pollution. I request the Government to make arrangements in above districts and assembly constituencies in my area for providing hygienic potable water by making arrangements for installing hand pumps, R.O. Machines, modern measures for water conservation and cleaning of rivers.

SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI: Today river Ganga is so much polluted that its water is not potable any more. I request the Government to carry out the purification work of other rivers also along with the river Ganga. In my parliamentary constituency Fatehpur (Uttar Pradesh) both the holy rivers, the

Ganga and the Yamuna are to be developed urgently. I demand from the Union

Government that the life of the people of Fatehpur may be secured by making embankments on the banks of the Ganga and the Yamuna from Kanpur and

Allahabad. Dispersal of dead bodies in the Ganga and the Yamuna should be prevented by making cremation centre at appropriate places. By constructing Ghats its beautification work should be done like Haridwar. Vitora Ghat should be declared a tourist place.

SHRI E.T. MOHAMMAD BASHEER: We always discuss about the global warming, devastation, water pollution, use of pesticides, waste management and water borne diseases, droughts, etc. Is it not mainly man-made calamity? If a third world war takes place, the scientists say, it will be for drinking water.

Integrated water management is the essential need of the hour. There is requirement of water for our irrigation needs, safe drinking water purpose, industrial use and hydro power development. We have to do optimum utilization of the water resources available. Flood control measures will have to be expedited.

Similarly, drought prone area development plan also is to be streamlined. India has got hundreds of small and major rivers. We must have a national master plan for the preservation of our rivers. Watershed programme, rainwater harvesting, curbing the over exploitation of ground water, construction of check dams in the rivers all these kinds of things can be implemented very effectively in our country.

I would like to say that the Government alone cannot solve this problem.

Involvement of the community in general is very much required.

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL: Every year Bihar faces water crisis. There is scarcity of water everywhere. Efforts are needed for water conservation. National Water Policy was formulated in the year 2012, but work has not been done according to that. In my Lok Sabha Parliamentary constituency

Maharajganj, Bihar many villages are getting displaced due to erosion. I request the Government to rehabilitate the displaced persons. Necessary action should be taken for urgently stopping erosion caused by Ganga-Saryu-Daha and rainy rivers in Maharajganj and for carrying out anti-erosion work. Necessary action should be taken for removing water logging in areas affected by the same. Make necessary scheme for the irrigation for the benefit of farmers.

SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD: Prime Minister Shri Modi Ji gave a message to this country that cleaning of this country will start with the river

Ganges and Hon‟ble Minister gave priority to this. The programme of linking rivers was formulated by the previous NDA Government but it could not be implemented. Our Government has initiated this work and it will be completed in the period of 10 years. If any manpower will be required in the cleaning of river

Ganges then people of Nishad and Mallah society will be deployed for this work because they have good knowledge of it.

SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: There is a provision of four thousand crores of rupees in various heads under this year‟s budget for cleansing the river Ganga which is the sole of this country. I would like to thank the Hon.

Prime Minister for making a provision of Rs.1000 crore in the budget for assured irrigation programme as he had promised for the same to the farming community.

I would again thank the hon. Prime Minister for translating the 150 years old dream into reality by announcing the inter-linking the rivers so as to save the nation from the droughts and floods. The state from which I hail, 10 per cent of the country and about 1.8 per cent population of the world lives in that state and it has got available only 1 per cent water resources of the country. Nature has discriminated against us. The status of state of special category should be accorded to Rajasthan because it is a desert area. About 1000 cusecs of water of

Indira Gandhi Canal goes waist. Sewer water is released in that canal and the people of my constituency are compelled to drink that contaminated water. In my constituency, 34 projects of reconstruction of ponds are pending. Those projects should be completed early. This region has been excluded from the desert area and included in the drought prone area in a discriminatory manner.

SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV: The problem of flood and drought in Bihar is quite serious which is making the condition of farmers bad. Many major rivers cross from Bihar. If water management is carried out in proper way, farmers could be saved from losses. Every year, water is released into rivers from Nepal. It causes maximum losses to the farmers and residents of North Bihar. If the water released from Nepal is properly managed, the devastation caused every year in

North Bihar could be prevented. Hydro power could be generated there from to remove the shortage of power. Soil erosion from rivers may be prevented and the condition of canals be improved. A pontoon bridge has been got constructed in the

Danapur Assembly Constituency falling in my parliamentary constituency area of

Patliputra. It is my request to the Government that a permanent bridge be constructed over there to provide facility to the people.

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR: Some parts of Bihar are affected by flood and some are in the grip of drought. The rivers originating from Nepal and

Tibet cause floods in Bihar. In my constituency Nalanda, there is drought like situation. I request the Government to link the Falgu river with Sone river so that water could be made available for irrigation in three-fourth districts. Small dams can be built on the small seasonal rivers in South Bihar. There is a need to pay attention towards this region. The State Government has sent a proposal to the Union Government regarding interlinking of rivers. I welcome this proposal. The proposal sent by the State Government in this regard should be approved at the earliest so that the farmers of Bihar could get water for irrigation purpose.

SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE: I thank you for giving me opportunity to express my views on the budget 2014. There is an urgent need to utilize the excess water of Narmade-Tapi river basin flowing into the sea for the socio-economic upliftment of the people of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and

Maharashtra. Study shows that the geological conditions in these basins are favorable for the “Mega Recharge Scheme”. If this scheme is completed, thousands villages will get the adequate drinking water throughout the year. It will be beneficial to the farmers in the drought prone region. I want to request the

Hon‟ble Minister to provide the central fund to the projects under Tapi Valley

Irrigation Development Corporation including Shelgaon Barrage Irrigation Project so that the farmers can be benefited.

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN: We know that there is no life without water and therefore much significance is attached to it. Water shortage is becoming very common not only in India but throughout the globe. By 2025, three-hundred-and-twenty crores of people in the globe will not be having adequate drinking water. Therefore, our country should take very serious note of it.

Alarming situation is that more than 50 per cent of Indians living in 5.6 lakh villages will not be having adequate water in future. Water conservation is the need of the hour. We should have a proper, scientific water resources management as well as planning. The National Water Policy, 2012 throws some light on it, but it does not have a concrete plan with regard to water resources management.

Rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharging and decentralized watershed management programme are very important issues. I do appreciate for the rejuvenation of Ganga. In 1985 Rs.428 crore was spent for Ganga Programme but the result was not positive. I have a suggestion please take one river each from every State for the rejuvenation. For the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit

Programme, the Centre‟s share and the State‟s share is 75:25. My humbler suggestion to the Government is to please make Centre‟s share and State‟s share

50:50 for Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Water Programme. There is no fund provided under any of the irrigation programme or Flood Management

Programme. Anti-Sea Erosion programme should also become a programme under the Ministry of Water Resources so that the coastal States will be protected.

According to the 2003 estimate, Rs.5 lakh 60 thousand crore were required for the interlinking of rivers. 35 millions additional hectares of land will be irrigated and

34000 megawatt of electricity will be generated with the inter linking of rivers.

We have to give paramount importance to the conservation of the ecology of our country. The natural flow of the river should not be disturbed and should not be diverted. 14.3 million people will have to be evacuated. One lakh hectares of forest have to be destroyed. Deforestation will take place. Interlinking of rivers shall never be allowed unless and until the concerned State shall give the permission.

SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY: Irrigated land is negligible in my

Lok Sabha constituency of Giridih. Three rivers Konar, Damodar and Barakar cross through our area. If the union government cover these rivers under the programme to interlink the rivers, a major irrigation scheme could come up and if dams are built at Tundi, Jaridih and Dumri areas- a large unirrigated area could be irrigated thereby removing unemployment and making the farmers prosperous.

The water level would also rise through it. A scheme for cleaning the Damodar river may also be chalked out on the lines of the one for the Ganga cleaning campaign. Every Member of Parliament may be given one thousand handpumps and five hundred deep boring handpumps.

SHRIMATI JYOTI DHURVE: I want the Government to pay its attention towards the cleaning of rivers in my constituency, Baitual. I demand to raise the fund provided for linking and cleaning of rivers in the Budget. There are

48 cities situated along the bank of Ganges and about 3000 million contaminated water from Industries flows down into it. Hence, increased funds are needed for its cleaning. The water should be provided to farmers for irrigation by linking

Machna, Tawa, Madu, Ruparel, Pataal River, Ghoda Pachad etc Rivers flowing down from mountains and rainwater fed rivers of my state. Clean water should be provided to the people by joining these rivers. The power generation should be increased by constructing dams on these rivers. The development of Ghats and beautification of origin places of these rivers should be done.

DR. K. GOPAL: It is true that our country with 2.4 per cent of the world‟s total area, has nearly 18 per cent of the world‟s population. But it has only four per cent of the total available fresh water. The issue of water scarcity cannot be mitigated to a satisfactory level. I am concerned about the decreasing level of ground water and its contamination in the country. Water pollution is adding to

India‟s water woes with almost 70 per cent of surface water and increasing percentage of ground water being contaminated. So, it is the duty of the

Government to take immediate measures to control the ground water contamination. Compulsory installation of rainwater harvesting systems is the need of the hour. It should be undertaken in a sustainable manner. The ground water recharging should be given top priority in plan policies. The Central

Government should instruct the State Governments to make rainwater harvesting system mandatory in all existing and new structures. The interlinking of rivers in the State is a dream subject. All farmers across the country are expecting the realization of this project. After the completion of this project, GDP would increase to a great extent. The rights of states should be considered while formulated policies on water issues and interlinking of rivers.

SHRI RAJESH VERMA: In my district embankment of Sharda river on my side in Sitapur has not been done till date which causes flood and erosion every year and thousands of people have lost their houses and thousand acres of land has been engulfed by the river. I request you to allocate funds for embankment of

Sharda river on the border of Sitapur and to rehabilitate displaced people there.

The other issue related to Sitapur is that the Sarai river has been polluted extremely and it has become very narrow. I request that funds may be allocated for desilting of this river.

SHRI VIRENDRA SINGH: I am a farmer and my constituency is situated at the bank of Ganga. The river basin of Ganga and Yamuna is the most fertile agricultural area in the world. If Ganga and Yamuna basin is utilized optimumly for agricultural production then it will not only cater the needs of India but also serve the needs of world too. Therefore arrangement may be made for irrigation of this area. Canals were made for the irrigation of lands for cultivation but these canals have also submerged thousand acres of fertile land which have become useless for cultivation. Government should take care of this fact also. Bhadohi is

Lok Sabha constituency and a historical place which is known as Lakshagreha.

About 32 villages in the vicinity of Lakshagreha have been eroded and submerged in the river. The attention of the State Government should be attracted by the

Central Government to check this erosion. I would like to talk about conservation of rivers. Morwa river – a dried river in my constituency – is now full of water after desilting it. I request all the Members of Parliament to constructed at least five ponds in their constituencies. If it happens then the dream of Narendra Bhai and Uma Bharti will come true.

SHRI GANESH SINGH: Eighteen percent of the world population reside in India but here is only four percent of water resources and only 2.6% of land of the world. In the second phase of interconnecting the rivers the Parvati, the Kaali, the Sindh rivers of Madhya Pradesh should be covered. Under the inclusion of big dams and canals used for irrigation in the national project the proposal of including canal at right coast of „Bargi Vyapvartan Project‟ is lying pending with the Central

Government since 2009. I demand for sanction of 3797 crores for this scheme.

Narmada – Malwa Link Project be included in the national project. 14 crore hectare of land is being irrigated. It needs to be increased. 22 projects of Madhya

Pradesh lying pending in the Ministry should be sanctioned. Three proposals of extension of dams are under consideration: 1. Tawan canal Project; 2. Rajghat

Canal Project; and Varna Canal Project and 14 forest projects are lying pending with the government. Fund has been given for development of ghats in Kedarnath,

Haridwar, Varanasi, Allahabad, Patna and Delhi and I demand that Ramghat of

Chitrakoot should be included in this project.

SHRI ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE: A provision of Rs.12, 500 crore for development of the innumerable rivers, rivulets and water bodies of this sub- continental nation, is but a paltry sum. Possibly, that sum is not even adequate to develop „Jal Marg Vikas‟ which the hon. Minister has announced to link Allahabad to Haldia. Development of inland waterways does not mean merely building jetties, river ports, provision of barges and steamers. It also means regular dredging of the river and protection of the banks of the river from erosion. It also means an integrated plan which treats all effluents being released into the river. I do not believe that adequate funds have been made available for any of these heads. The amount set aside for the Jal Marg, Rs. 4,200 crore will be needed merely to address the issue of bank erosion and rehabilitation of victims. Only routine maintenance and repair work has been catered to in this year‟s Budget.

Government has shown somewhat step – motherly attitude to this ancient region, the Ruhr of Bengal which forms the Farrakka Barrage Project by reducing its budgetary grant. The money granted to river basin management is inadequate.

Kindly invite the policy makers and experts side by side and hammer out a plan of action to save our Himalayan glaciers, the main source of our water wealth and our rivers. The Ministry of Water Resources needs to plan, spend and work in tandem with the Ministry of Environment to achieve any tangible gains in water conservation and cleansing. The Government has come up with an integrated

Ganga Conservation Mission called „Namami Gange‟ which is mainly for the

States of Uttarakhand, UP and Bihar. In Bengal the Ganges has several distributaries and there is also a great Hindu pilgrimage Ganga Sagar but it has not been included for the development of Ghat or any beautification. I would request

Madam to consider Jangipur also in this scheme. I would urge upon the Government that all stakeholders – all down-stream and up-stream States- must be considered and a consensus must be arrived at for river linking project so that all are satisfied and it does not have much ramifications in future.

SHRI JUGAL KISHORE: Akhnoor – Jiapota is a historical place in my

Parliamentary Constituency, where thousands of people come for pilgrimage. At earlier occasion also, the Central Government has sanctioned fund for providing facilities to the pilgrims. I request the Government to sanction more funds for this purpose. Every year, the people of the area have to face floods in Chinab river.

Embankment on both sides of the river is required to check flood water. I request the hon‟ble Minister to provide funds for the construction of embankments.

Furthermore, funds should also be provided for development of Tavi river and to solve the problem of drinking water in this hilly area.

SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA: Linking of rivers in the country aimed at not only providing relief in the flood affected areas but also ensure availability of water in drought prone areas. Budget allocation of Rs. 2037 crores for cleanliness of the Ganga river is also a welcome step. The Ramgarh dam on Tala river is 18 km. away from Jaipur and constant encroachment has led to the shortage of water reaching the dam. Financial assistance should be provided for desilting of Tala river and Ramgarh Dam so that the work could be taken up at war footing and the earlier status restored. Due to migration of the people from outside, the level of ground water of Jaipur city is declining at fast pace. Under such circumstances, it has become necessary to take supply from Chambal river to make up for the shortage of drinking water in the city. I, therefore, request the Government to provide funds specifically for this project. Cleaning and desiltation of the rivulets should be taken up so as to ensure free flow of water in the Kanota, Kalakh and

Gullar dams.

SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY: Our country is not uniformly blessed with perennial rivers. Therefore, an effort to link the rivers can give rich dividends to the country. Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission called „Namami Ganga’ is welcomed by all Indians. I would like to bring in to the notice to take special care of Rajasthan which have more than 50 % area is under desert and semi-desert. The people of western Rajasthan and Central Rajasthan are not having the proper and appropriate water for drinking purposes. We have not any perennial river and that is why we need the linking of our rivers with the rivers which arises from

Himalayas. Most of the area of Rajasthan State is under dark zone. My

Constituency Nagaur comes under brackish and fluoride water belt. I would like to request to provide additional budget and central assistance for the ambitious and useful project named Naguar lift canal. A project is required to maintain the quality of water in Indira Gandhi Canal.

SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV: To alleviate hunger and poverty and to bring prosperity in the country and to prevent suicides committed by farmers, continuous availability of water have to be provided to farmers land. The Ganga and Yamuna have to be made clean simultaneously. So there is necessity to give proper attention towards cleanliness of both river Ganga and

Yamuna. The interlinking of rivers project under AIBP scheme. We should work out a plan in phased manner to rehabilitate displaced persons whether they are tribals, poors or any common man. We should interlink Kanela, Balan and

Bagmati rivers. We have to prevent erosion. We can supply water to agrarian land and waste land if we could increase the number of water sources by constructing chek dam. State boring scheme should be investigated on large scale and priority basis. We shall have to give thrust on lift irrigation scheme. If dam is constructed, proper distribution of water should be ensured so that water reaches to tail land.

You may convene meetings on AIBP schemes. There should be debate on construction of high dam on Kosi by initiating a dialogue with Nepal. All river projects regarding Kamla, Bagmati, Kosi, flowing in my areas like Banka,

Bhagalpur, Munger, Jammui and Lakhisarai should be completed. These projects should be completed in a time-bound manner by formulating them in a better ways.

KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: World over many countries are facing potable water problem. In India around 1 Lakh villages or habitations are drinking non-potable water or contaminated water. Our Government is giving importance to save the rivers by cleaning them up. Using all these rivers, we should have a plan to give drinking water to all. I urge Government to give potable water to all the Indians. We have constructed big dams but water is not flowing for irrigation. To give water for irrigation, farm canals are a must and the Government of India should help State Government financially to make use of this water. In my constituency, there is a river called Varahi. For the last 12 years, people of Udupi

District are waiting for the water of Varahi to their farms. I request the

Government to please complete the Varahi project which should feed the irrigation field of Kundapur Taluk and Udupi Taluk of Udupi district and also drinking water in multi village scheme.

SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI: Hon'ble Speaker Madam, thank you for giving me an opportunity to Speak on the demand for grants of the Ministry of

Water Resources. Certainly water is life and all have said about this. I would like to say one thing that Yamuna river flows via Delhi. It has been turned into sewage drain. The Government should take note of this matter. During rainy season huge flow of water accumulated in the river Yamuna and if rain water is collected here by constructing two barrages. the thirst of water in Delhi can be quenched. The water is not available for the population of about 40 % in Delhi. Delhi is not getting its due share of water. I would request the Hon'ble Minister to take note of this matter. The Supreme Court has issued order that all the ponds in Delhi should be renovated and be used for water harvesting. The Hon'ble Minister should issue a direction that all ponds, which are situated in old villages of Delhi, should be renovated so that rain water can be collected there and as a result of this water level of Delhi can also be raised. SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR: Due to gross negligence of rivers in the country, these have become polluted. 28 rivers of Maharashtra are in the list of polluted rivers. The State government as well as the Union Government will have to take initiative to make these rivers pollution-free. The fishermen community is becoming unemployed on account of pollution of rivers. The

Government needs to pay attention to this aspect. There is also need to conserve water and protect aquatics by making rivers pollution free. I demand for providing funds for making Erai and Vardha rivers pollution free under National River

Conservation Plan. Practical aspect of the policy to link rivers should also be taken care of. The Ministry of Water Resources is very important from the point of view of farmers, industry, fishermen and drinking water. For this purpose, adequate budgetary provision should be made.

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH: In Chatra Lok Sabha constituency, there are reservoirs and dams under construction in Mandal since 1972 under North Koel

Reservoir Project. At the time of approval of this project, in a reply to a question in

Parliament in 1972, it was stated that there would be supply of 24 Mega Watt hydro electricity from Mandal dam in Palamu and an assurance was given that construction of reservoirs on Auranga and Amanat rivers would be taken up and it would irrigate about 1,20,000 hectares of land. This assurance has not been fulfilled so far. All the departments related to water resources should be clubbed with a single department in the states also. Appointment of engineers should be made at the Secretary level in the Water Resources Department.

SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: Indian economy is dependent on agriculture.

Our agriculture is dependent on monsoon even today. This budget has been presented for meeting the requirements of the period April 2014 to March 31,

2015. The monsoon in India prevails from June to September and the revised budget estimate is prepared after September. Due to monsoon, activities are curtailed in the Department during these four months. When the time comes to implement the schemes like canal construction, dam construction, etc. after

September, the funds are cut under the revised budget estimates. Thus, the schemes do not achieve the targets fixed for them. All the schemes of water resources should be prepared taking Indian monsoon into account, so that all schemes are implemented after the monsoon.

SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ: Indian government has provided a sum of

Rs.100 crore for the development origin of rivers and major ghats at Kedarnath,

Haridwar, Kanpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, etc. Every year, many people become homeless due to erosion of Ram Ganga and thousands of acres of land get submerged. Therefore, the rivers should be de-silted and construction of dams and embankments should be permitted in the interest of the public. I suggest that there should be continuous cleaning and de-silting of rivers to make seamless availability of water. SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI: In my constituency, Sant Kabir Nagar, three rivers i.e. Sarayu, Kunano and Ami flow, of which Ami has turned black today. If a direction is issued to the Government, the Ami river, which was once known as

Amrit river and which has become poisonous today, will certainly get back its old pride and would become a tourist place touching the cemetery of Saint Kabir.

SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI: If the nation wants to increase water resources, de-silting of ponds, embankments should be undertaken as there is no storage of water according to the desired capacity. Storage of adequate water will result into increase in availability of drinking water and irrigation potential. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj can undertake such works under RRR (Repair, Restoration and Renovation) Scheme. Therefore, I request that there should be more and more budgetary allocation for water storage.

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER

DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (SUSHRI UMA

BHARTI) replying said : Some hon. Members has suggested to add the words water conservation in the new name of the Ministry, the Ministry of Water

Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. But my point is that the words water resources also indicate the sense of water conservation. River

Development is also water conservation. While talking about the conservation of the Ganga, we mean the Water Conservation also. We are to celebrate the first week of 2015-16 as water conservation week. The whole year 2015-16 will be celebrated in the name of water conservation. I request all the Hon‟ble Members to participate in it. They should conserve rain water in their respective

Constituencies. Our Ministry would extend all help in their gesture in this regard.

The issue of interlinking of rivers was discussed. Every care would be taken to safeguard the interests of animals, birds and humans and the river itself while interlinking them. We do not intend to do this work without the consent of States concerned. Interlinking of rivers is a long cherished dream. The then Prime

Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had again proposed for interlinking rivers. Our

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has ventured to realise that dream. I am happy that I have been entrusted with this job. I am happy to accept this assignment because I have heard the people dying from starvation caused by drought in areas like Bolangir, Kalahandi in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh and Madhya

Pradesh in Bundelkand area. Many farmers committed suicide. I believe that this dream of interlinking rivers would be realised and there would be no more death from starvation. People would no more be forced to leave their home and migrate to cities like Delhi and Mumbai for their livelihood. It has also been discussed that some rivers flow through foreign countries. Every care would be taken that our national interest is not hampered by any of their river projects. I would like to correct the Hon. Former Prime Minister that there had never been any dispute among states with regard to the river Narmada. Sardar Sarovar Project has not created any dispute among the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra etc. Some social organisations did have some of their reservations. The height of the Narmada Dam was raised only after their reservations were addressed. Injustice will never be meted out to any State. There is some dispute on rivers between Seemandhra and Telangana. The matter has been referred to Krishna River Water Department Tribunal (Second) and it would redress their grievances. An Hon. young Member has referred to the river

Brahmaputra. He has also talked about Majhauli Island. I would like to point out to the Hon. Member that we are to contact Assam Chief Minister regarding

Majhauli Island. An Hon. Member from Assam has proposed to declare Majhauli

Island as world Heritage. My Ministry would provide every cooperation in this regard. It has been said that an amount of Rs. 2037 crore has been allocated for the river Ganga and Rs. 100 crore for interlinking of ghats. I would like to say that the amount of Rs. 100 is not meant for interlinking rivers It is meant for DPR of linkage of the rivers. I also assure the Hon. Member that the amount allocated would be certainly utilized. It will be used this year itself. It has also been stated that some states have done commendable job in conserving river water. It is not necessary that the nation alone is supposed to guide states. We are ready to accept guidance of any state with regard to our water policy and we will work accordingly. A young Member has raised the issue of shipping. Shipping in

Ganga took place in past and it will continue in future also. But we will take every care that the continuous flow and sanitation of the Ganga river is not compromised by shipping at any cost. We will take care of not only the Ganga but other rivers as well. The parameters applied to the Ganga will be equally applicable to other rivers also. An Hon. Member has talked about the river Pampa. I did not mention the name of any particular river. But I can assure him that every river of this country for us is as divine as Ganga. The issue of flood caused by rivers originating from Nepal has also been raised here. Nepal is our friendly neighbouring country. We both will work together and the interest of both the countries will be protected.

All the cut motions were put and negatived.

All the demands for Grants were voted in full.

P. SREEDHARAN, Secretary-General.

© 2014 BY LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NOTE: It is the verbatim Debates of the Lok Sabha and not the Synopsis that should be considered authoritative.

English and Hindi versions of Synopsis of Debates are also available at http://loksabha.nic.in.