RIVER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND WORKS RELATED TO BORDER AREA
There are twelve major river systems in India, out of which three major river systems, namely Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus are shared with neighboring countries i.e. Nepal, Bhutan,China, Bangladesh and Pakistan. These three river systems alone drain a total of 42 % of geographical area in India and contribute 60% to the total water regime in the country.
During XI Plan, the central sector scheme namely ‘River Management Activities and Works related to Border Areas’ was formulated by the Ministry of Water Resources after integrating smaller schemes having similar objectives of funding the activities related to Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, survey / investigations & preparation of DPRs for, Sapta Kosi High Dam and Sun Kosi Storage cum Diversion Scheme, maintenance of flood protection works of Kosi, & Gandak rivers, extension of embankments on Lalbakeya ,Kamla, Bagmati & Khando rivers, flood forecasting on rivers common to India and Nepal, hydrological observations on rivers originating from Bhutan, Joint observations on rivers common to Bangladesh and neighboring countries, expenditure on activities of GFCC, grant-in-aid to Brahmaputra Board, schemes of Majuli Island in Assam, Debang project etc, flood protection/ anti-erosion and developmental works on common/ border rivers with Bangladesh (to be carried out by the State Governments of West Bengal & Tripura) , river protection works on border rivers flowing to Pakistan , provision for field Investigations of Naumure HE Project (Nepal) on river Rapti and pre-construction activities of Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project involving construction of approach road, project bridges, residential quarters and pre-construction surveys, on Indian side.
The scheme was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in its meeting held on 4th December’ 2008 at a total cost of Rs. 601 Crores only which was further revised to Rs. 820.00 crores to provide funds for reconstruction of breached Kosi embankment in Nepal, de-silting of river Ichhamati for about 20 km length along international border with Bangladesh and emergent works of restoration of rivers Dibang and Lohit executed by Brahmaputra Board.
During XII plan, the administrative approval for central sector scheme namely ‘River Management Activities and Works related to Border Areas’ was issued on 23rd December, 2014 at a total cost of Rs. 740 crores to cover following major components:
- Hydrological observations and flood forecasting on common border rivers with neighboring countries.
- Investigation of WR projects in Neighboring Countries
- Pre-construction activities for WR projects on common border rivers-Pancheshwar development Authority(PDA)
- Grant in Aid to States/UTs for flood management/anti –sea erosion works:-
- Maintenance of flood protection works of Kosi & Gandak projects(in Nepal), Flood Protection/anti-erosion works in the border areas with Bangladesh and Pakistan by States.
- Flood Management/anti-erosion works/anti- sea erosion works in UTs.
- Activities of Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC).