Rs. 6654 CRORE FOR STATE SECTOR FLOOD CONTROL
AND DRAINAGE SCHEMES IN TENTH PLAN
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF
WATER RESOURCES MINISTRY DISCUSSES DRAINAGE AND WATER LOGGING
PROBLEMS
The Working Group on Flood Control
Programme has recommended Rs. 6653.93 crore for taking up flood
control , drainage and anti-erosion schemes in the state sector
during the Tenth Plan period. It is proposed to cover an area
of 2.78 million hectares under these schemes, said today the Minister
for Water Resources, Shri Arjun Sethi while addressing the members
of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry. Shri Sethi
said during the 9th Plan the States have spent nearly
Rs. 760 crore in these schemes benefiting approximately 16 million
hectares. The major works taken up under the programme include
embankment, drainage, channel and towns/villages protection works.
The Minister said the Working
Group has recommended Rs. 23.80crore for harang scheme and Rs.
150 crore central assistance for flood control works including
drainage in Brahmaputra and Barak Basin during the 10th
Plan. It has proposed an outlay of Rs. 50 crore for a new scheme
titled "Improvement of drainage in the country including
Mokmah Tal area". These schemes would operate under central
sector.
The Minister said that the
Governement proposes to increase the central assistance limit
from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 7,500 per hectare for execution of surface/bio
drainage and Rs. 20,000 per hectare in case of sub surface drainage
during the Tenth Plan in the water logged areas under the Command
Area Development agencies. Under this programme, so far, 441 schemes
of 9 States have been approved with an estimated cost of about
Rs. 44 crore. Total area proposed to be reclaimed from these schemes
is about 57,000 hectare out of which about 25,000 hectare has
already been reclaimed up to March this year.
Shri Sethi said that water
logging is an important form of land degradation in India and
caused by unscientific management of soil, water and crops in
irrigated lands. Obstruction of natural drainage system by various
development activities and water logging in irrigated areas are
also matters of concern. Shri Sethi alerted all concerned to identify
the magnitude of the problem and take necessary steps on time
for prevention, reclamation and management.
Replying to the queries of
the members, the Minister said that the drainage problem due to
Farakka barrage would be taken up on the State Government’s request.
The members requested to take immediate steps to check the siltation
of river beds. As the drainage and flood control measures require
huge investment, they proposed Central interventions to raise
funds. They also appealed to the Minister to tackle the problem
of development of unknown diseases in the water logged areas.
The following members of Parliament
were present. S/Shri A. Hasnat Khan, A. Krishnaswami and Ms. Sushree
Devi.
