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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, .

(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 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 severley 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 Brahmaputa. 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:

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

* Please see Supplement develp 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 maybe 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:

*MS. :

*SHRI PRASANNA KUMAR PATASANI :

*SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA :

*SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

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

* Please see Supplement

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 Plavaram 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:

* Please see Supplement

*SMT. RAMA DEVI:

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

Central Government to implement the recommendations of Pritam Singh Comiittee 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 Maharahstra which we have just implemented in 2012 of stopping contamination of Water. This Maharahstra 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:

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 BAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

*SMT. SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

* Please see Supplement

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:

*SHRI TARIQ ANWAR:

SHRI : 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

* Please see Supplement 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:

*SMT. JAYSHREEBEN PATEL:

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.

* Please see Supplement

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

The Bairaj danger mark in 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 Uttrakhand 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:

*KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV:

*SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI:

*SHRI :

*SADHVI NIRAJAN JYOTI:

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.

* Please see Supplement

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:

* SHRI RAM CHARITA NISHAD:

SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: There is a provision of four thousand crores of rupees in various heads under this year’s budget for cleanzing 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

Indra Gandhi Canal goes waist. Sewar 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

* Please see Supplement 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:

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 causes 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.

*SMT. RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

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.

* Please see Supplement

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 programe 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:

*SMT. JYOTI DHURVE:

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

* Please see Supplement 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.

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P. SREEDHARAN, Secretary-General.

**Supplement covering rest of the proceedings is being issued separately.

© 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.