RAJYA SABHA
Central Water Commission
(CWC) is monitoring the storage position of 70 important reservoirs
of the country including 3 of Rajasthan, 2 of Himachal Pradesh,
6 of Orissa and 10 of Maharashtra. Of the above, the available
storage as on 14.2.2003 of two reservoirs of Rajasthan, 4 of
Orissa and 4 of Maharashtra are much lower than the last 10
years average storage. Two reservoirs of Himachal Pradesh which
are supplying water inter-alia to Punjab have storage of the
order of 60% of the last ten years average storage. The post
monsoon rainfall upto 31.12.2002 in the States of Rajasthan,
Punjab, Orissa and Maharashtra as per information supplied by
India Meteorological Department are either deficient or scanty.
The overall position in these States during 2003, however, shall
depend upon meteorological events during the year especially
during the coming monsoon period.
Despite suggestions
of Agricultural Scientists, Government of India is promoting
rain water harvesting through watershed management programme,
artificial recharge of ground water and roof top rain water
harvesting under sector reform project of Accelerated Rural
Water Supply programme of Ministry of Rural Development and
in addition is also organising training and mass awareness programmes
to emphasize on the importance of rain water harvesting and
its implementation. For meeting future requirements of water
as a long term measure National Water Developent Agency have
formulated National Perspective Plan (NPP) for water resources
development which envisages interlining of various Peninsular
rivers and Himalayan rivers for transfer of water from surplus
areas to water deficit areas.
This information
was given by the Union Minister of State for Water Resources,
Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha
today to a question from S/Shri Ramachandra Khuntia and B. J.
Panda quoting the news item ‘expect water emergency in 2003’
appearing in an English news daily recently.
