**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4792, addressed on August 21, 2025, regarding dam construction, the Ministry of Jal Shakti clarifies the role of the Central Government and State Governments in such projects. The Central Government, through its ongoing schemes, provides technical support and partial financial assistance for identified irrigation projects. The Central Water Commission (CWC) appraises the techno-economic viability of major or medium irrigation projects on inter-state river systems. However, planning, implementation, maintenance, and data collection regarding dams, including those in ecologically sensitive zones or those dropped due to environmental concerns, are the responsibilities of the respective State Governments, as water is a state subject. The Ministry emphasizes that all projects undergo environmental viability examinations before statutory clearances are issued, and implementation can only commence once these clearances are secured. The response was provided by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for water resources and related matters.
Department of Water Resources, River Development Ganga Rejuvenation: A department under the Ministry of Jal Shakti focused on water resources, river development, and the Ganga Rejuvenation project.
Shri Ujjwal Raman Singh: Member of Parliament who posed a question regarding dam construction.
Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary: Minister of State for Jal Shakti who answered the question regarding dam construction.
Central Water Commission (CWC): An organization under the Ministry of Jal Shakti responsible for appraising the techno-economic viability of major and medium irrigation projects on inter-State River systems.
Western Ghats: A major mountain range in India where a proposal to construct check dams was postponed.
Government of India: The governing body of the Republic of India, providing technical support and partial financial assistance for irrigation projects.
State Government: The governing body of an individual state within India, responsible for planning, implementing, and maintaining water resource projects within their respective states.
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.
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