Revival of Small Rivers and Other Water Bodies

(a) & (c) Works related to water resources development & management are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes.
Central Assistance (CA) for restoration of water bodies is provided by the Ministry under the scheme of Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies, which is a component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). The scheme aims at restoring the lost irrigation potential by improvement and restoration of existing water bodies. The restoration of water bodies also helps in ground water recharge. Works such as development of catchment, desilting, strengthening of bunds etc. are taken up for restoration of water bodies.

Under the RRR of Water Bodies scheme, a total of 2064 water bodies with an estimated cost of Rs.1765 crore have been taken up for restoration in various states since XII Plan onwards as per eligible proposals received from the concerned State Governments, out of which 1160 water bodies have been reported to be completed upto March, 2019. Total Central Assistance amounting to Rs.369.11 crore has been released to the States upto March, 2019 for completion of works of these water bodies. Statewise details in this regard are at Annexure – I.
Further, under MGNREGA, works related to renovation of traditional water bodies, etc. are permissible.  State wise details of funds released for the same under MGNREGA are at Annexure – II.

(b) Works related to survey of such water bodies comes under the purview of concerned State Government. However, as per the 5th Minor Irrigation Census conducted by this Ministry, there are 5,16,303 water bodies in the rural areas of the country being used for minor irrigation, out of which 53,396 are not in use for various reasons such as non availability of water, less and erratic rainfall, siltation, salinity etc.

(d) to (e) Matter related to encroachment of water bodies comes under purview of the concerned State Government. However, considering the importance of water bodies for socio economic development, Secretary (MoWR, RD & GR) vide letter dated 26.02.2016 requested State Governments to take necessary steps for keeping all the water bodies encroachment free. Further, Secretary (WR, RD & GR) vide letter dated 07.11.2016 requested the State Governments to take appropriate action in respect of inclusion of water bodies in land records, inclusion of water bodies as integral part of town planning process, strict action for the encroachers, etc. Further, water bodies are included under RRR of Water Bodies scheme only after concerned State Government certify that these are encroachment free.

2225. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

• (a) whether the Government is working on any action plan pertaining to revival of dying small rivers, lakes, ponds, small ponds, wells and Bavaris‚, etc. in the country;
• (b) whether the Government has carried out any survey of such water bodies for reviving them and if so, the details thereof;
• (c) the State-wise details of the efforts made for the revival of small rivers, lakes, ponds, small ponds, wells and ‘Bavaris’ for ground water recharge in the country along with the methodologies being adopted for it;
• (d) whether the Government is aware that the anti-social elements have occupied these water bodies in unauthorized manner across the country; and
• (e) if so, the action taken by the Government against them and the initiatives taken/being taken so far to remove the illegal encroachment?