Parliament Question: Construction of Dams

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4792 ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025 CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS †4792. SHRI UJJWAL RAMAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the number of dams constructed/under construction in ecologically sensitive areas in the country at present;

(b) the number of under-construction dams wherein work has been stopped due to environmental instability;

(c) whether the Government has postponed the proposal to construct more than 1400 check dams in the Western Ghats for not being environmentally viable; and

(d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) to (d) Government of India provides technical support and partial financial assistance under its ongoing schemes, for the identified irrigation projects. Further, techno-economic viability of the major or medium irrigation projects on inter-State River systems is to be appraised by Central Water Commission (CWC) under this Ministry.

Water being a state subject, it is for the State Government concerned to plan, implement and maintain water resources projects, and also maintain data regarding dams, in the respective State.

Similarly, details of dams built/under construction in the ecologically sensitive zone, as well as details of the proposals dropped due to lack of environmental sustainability, are also being maintained by the respective State Governments themselves.

However, environmental viability of projects is required to be examined in accordance with the laid down procedures, before the requisite statutory and mandatory clearances are issued to any project.

Implementation of a project can be taken up only once the prescribed clearances are in place. *****