The flood water is being partially utilized in the country by way of creating storages, diversion and inter-basin transfer but the large amount of water remains unutilised due to geographical constraints, shortage of storage reservoirs and lack of inter-basin transfer mechanisms. For conserving and using the waters of rivers, gross storage capacity of 325.455 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) in form of Dams/reservoirs has been created in the country over the years.

Total water requirement of the country for different uses for high demand scenario for the year 2050 as assessed by National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD-1999) constituted by Ministry of Water Resources, is 1180 BCM. As per erstwhile Planning Commission “Report of the Working Group on Water Resources for the XI Five Year Plan (2007-2012)”, the surface water use, in view of large temporal variability would approximately require live storage of around 450 BCM.National Water Policy of Ministry of Jal Shakti has emphasized storage projects with dedicated flood storage as the long term solution to the devastating floods occurring every year.

Central/State Governments have accorded high priority to the Optimum utilisation of water is continues effort of Central/State Governments. Water being State subject, water resources projects are planned funded, executed and maintained by the State Government themselves as per their own need, priority and available resources. In order to supplement their efforts, Government of India provide technical and financial assistance to State Governments to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various scheme and programmes such as Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), Har Khet ko Pani (HKKP), etc. under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). Many of the projects under PMKSY store flood water during monsoon season in their reservoirs and multi-purpose storages of these projects have helped greatly in moderating the intensity of flood in the downstream flood plain area. Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) programme has been taken up on high Priority. National Perspective Plan (NPP) formulated by the Government of India for diversion of surplus water to deficit areas aims to provide benefits of 25 million hectare (mha) of irrigation from surface waters, 10 mha. by increased use of ground waters, raising the ultimate irrigation potential from 140 mha to 175 mha. and generation of 34 million Kilowatt (mKW) of power, apart from the incidental benefits of flood control, navigation, water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc. National Water Development Agency (NWDA) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti has identified 16 links under Peninsular Rivers Component and 14 links under Himalayan Component for inter basin transfer.

This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written  reply in Lok  Sabha today.

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BY/AS