New Delhi, June 12 (UNI) Working against time, the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has completed 20 sewage treatment plants (STP) creating 262 million litre a day (MLD) capacity for treating waste as part of the programme to clean the Ganga river. At an estimated cost of Rs 20,601 crore, another 193 projects have been sanctioned.
At the same time the National Mission for Clean Ganga constructed 12.74 lakh Individual Household Latrines and declared 4,464 villages Open Defecation Free along the river Ganga.
After integrating several ongoing projects under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Project (AIBP), the Ministry has finished 18 prioritised projects with the potential of creating irrigation in 3.68 lakh hectares.
Twenty-two projects in Maharashtra, six in Odisha, 17 projects (including phases) in Madhya Pradesh have been put on fast track and are likely to be completed in advance of the scheduled time.
The cropped area during 2016 and 2017 in the completed portion of command of the AIBP prioritised 99 projects assessed through remote sensing is estimated at 32.5 lakh hectares and 40.6 lakh hectares respectively.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna, with the aim of Har Khet Ko Pani and doubling farmers’ income, the Ministry envisages ground water development through tube well/dug well to cover 2.5 lakh hectares between 2015-16 and 2019-20. The current proposal is to expand the scope to about 21.35 lakh hectares.
In addition, in 96 most ‘deprived irrigation districts’ in 12 states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, identified irrigation facilities will be created through tube wells, dug wells, bore wells and dug-cum-bore wells.
The Ministry said that as a result of intervention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pancheshwar Development Authority had been set up jointly by India and Nepal in 2014 for the execution, operation and maintenance of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project on river Sharda.
The project will generate 5,040 MW of power and create an irrigation potential of 4.3 lakh hectares (2.6 lakh ha in India and 1.7 lakh ha in Nepal).
A Joint Team of Experts (ToE) has been constituted to resolve issues raised by Nepal on the interpretation of the Mahakali Treaty, sharing of the Mahakali waters and assessment of project benefits.
In the case of Inter-linking of Rivers programme, the Ken-Betwa link project is expected to roll out in 2018. If it does, then the benefits will be shared by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in the Bundelkhand region.
The next two links in the pipeline are the Damanganga-Pinjal link in Gujarat and Maharashtra and the Par-Tapi-Narmada link again between Gujarat and Maharashtra. The combined draft of Memorandum of Agreement is pending with the State governments.
As per the planning of the Peninsular Component of the National Perspective Plan (NPP), about 20,796 MCM of waters from Mahanadi and Godavari rivers are to be transferred through a nine link system.
It is proposed to take up the nine links in two phases: The Phase-I will comprise transferring unutilised waters from Indravati sub-basin of Godavari basin to Cauvery basin through three links.
In Phase-II, the water from Polavaram dam will be transferred to Pennar basin (proposal of Andhra Pradesh government) and further to the Cauvery basin.
The Ministry had also taken up steps for the completion of North Koel Reservoir Project in Bihar and Jharkhand which is pending since 1972.
The Centre has given a go ahead for the Andhra Pradesh government to complete the 960 MW Polavaram project on its behalf and will fund the remaining cost of irrigation component of the project.
A National Aquifer Mapping And Management Programme (NAQUIM) has been planned to enhance the capacity of states in Ground Water Management and Development.
Successful operation of Farakka Barrage is crucial for keeping river Bhagirathi/Hooghli live particularly in lean season and also helps in flushing the silt for proper operation of Calcutta Port besides providing for the Navigation in National Water Way.
In the last three years, 34 old gates which are crucial in the smooth operation of Farraka Barrage were replaced, out of a total 123 gates and development of Tourism potential is being taken up, official sources said.
Under the National Water Mission, the Centre will support 14 states to formulate State Water Budgeting for Water Security, Safety and Sustainability as an innovative strategic intervention to check over-exploitation, water deficit and contamination.
In the past four years, the Ministry launched two mobile apps namely “Jal Sanchayan” and “Mera Bhujal” for taking up water conservation, ground water recharge and quality measures.
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