SHRI ANANTH KUMAR (BANGALORE SOUTH): With your permission, I am raising a very important issue of having a mass transport system for Bangalore.

In 1971 Bangalore had only 16 and odd lakh population and now the population is about 70 lakh.  It is expected that within a few years it is going to cross one crore population.  As far as the vehicular population is concerned, the Bangalore roads were planned for four lakh vehicles.  Now, according to March 2005 statistics, the vehicular traffic is 25.6 lakh.  Every day, 900 new vehicles are being registered and there is a great incidence of air pollution and noise pollution.  Every day three persons are getting killed and 18 are getting injured because of traffic related accidents.  Due to the increase in air pollution, every family is suffering from various respiratory and ophthalmic problems.

Therefore, in 2003 the NDA Government under the leadership of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had commissioned one Detailed Project Report .for Bangalore Metro, which was concluded.  Later, in 2004 the Planning Commission of India had also given in principle approval.  The hon. Prime Minister when he visited on 11th February, 2005, supported the proposal.  Hon. Urban Development Minister visited Bangalore on 16th February and he also supported it.  The hon. Finance Minister during his Budget speech had said that Bangalore Metro would be supported by the Union Government.  The Public Investment Board had approved the Bangalore Metro Project on 6th August, 2005.  Now, the Bangalore Metro Project is pending before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

Many times, myself and other hon. Members, Dr. Sangliana and others, have met the hon. Urban Development Minister with the request to implement the Bangalore Metro Rail Project forthwith[R9] .

But I do not know why it is being procrastinated.

I urge upon the hon. Minister of Urban Development to expedite the clearance.  The Union Government should give clearance and the Bangalore Metro should start rolling.

‘

SHRI H.D. DEVEGOWDA (HASSAN): With your permission, I would like to raise a very important issue pertaining to the States of Karnataka as well as Maharashtra.  Due to the recent unprecedented rains and heavy flood, both the States of Karnataka and Maharashtra have suffered very badly.  The issue concerning the State of Karnataka was raised recently through a Calling Attention.  Unfortunately, at that time I was touring that area.  I wanted to know the ground realities before raising the issue on the floor of this House.  Hon. Prime Minister wanted to visit that area but because of bad weather he was unable to go there.    Even then he has announced certain relief measures.  Shrimati Sonia Gandhi has also visited some areas in Belgaum district.  The hon. Minister of Agriculture, Shri Sharad Pawar has also visited some of the affected areas[R13] . He has also witnessed the damage that has taken place due to heavy floods.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Union Government for releasing about Rs.400 crore – Rs.300 crore yesterday and Rs.100 crore earlier.  But I would like to make it clear that Rs.114 crore which was given from Calamity Relief Fund was given on the basis of the recommendation made by the Finance Commission.  But this is not to be calculated for the relief that has been given by the Government.  In addition to Rs.114 crore, what is the State’s entitlement to get from the Calamity Relief Fund?  The Government of India has released Rs.300 crore.  Yesterday, I met the Finance Minister and he was kind enough to take a decision yesterday itself and communicate to the State Government.  I do not want to elaborate particularly on some of these issues.  I have got some photographs which show the ground realities.  I want to exhibit them to the House but I cannot do that without your permission.

In Karnataka, entire crops spreading over more than two lakh hectares have been destroyed.  Nobody can save those crops.  Normal relief measures are not going to help.  The people want that the same relief measures should be given as were given at the time of Tsunami and Gujarat earthquake.  The people are very much agitated and they cite these two instances.  They want that the same treatment should be given.  Otherwise, they would totally collapse.  I have shown these photographs to the hon. Finance Minister also.  I have also shown them to the hon. Minister for Agriculture.  He had also visited these places.  When he went there, the water was not receding.  It was flowing in full swing.  I have enquired from several old  people if they had seen such a flood before.  They said that in the past 100 years, they did not witness such a heavy flood in the Cauvery basin.  This is the position.  Therefore, the Government of India should give special treatment so far as the relief measures are concerned.

The hon. Prime Minister had made an announcement in Goa about Rs.100 crore.  I think your goodself was also present in Belgaum.  Anyway, I do not want to go into those aspects.  If there is a loss of life in a family, it has to be given Rs.1 lakh.  In addition to that, the State Government has also provided Rs.50,000 to each family.  But the crops have suffered a lot.  They need to work for a fresh crops urgently.  Now NABARD has been directed to provide a special relief package for that.  Here the problem comes up.  What are the NABARD guidelines?  Kindly consider giving relief on the lines of relief given to the farmers who were affected by Tsunami.  For cotton crop, Rs.4000 per hectare are being provided which comes to Rs.1600 per acre; for wet land, it is Rs.2500 which comes to Rs.800 per acre; and for dry land, it is Rs.1000 which comes to Rs.400 per acre.  Soyabean and sugarcane are grown in thousands of acres of land.

As you know, seven to eight rivers flow through the areas from Maharashtra to Belgaum, Bijapur, Raichur, etc.  They have witnessed unexpected and unprecedented flash floods.  I do not want to blame anybody that they had released water.  These are unnecessary things.  In the last 50 years, such heavy floods were never witnessed.  After I have come to politics, I have never witnessed such a huge damage[r14] .

[snb15]

The relief, I demand, should not be on the lines, as announced, of rescheduling of loans over a period of seven years with moratorium for the first two years and with payment of seven per cent interest for the next five years. This is what the Government proposes to provide as a matter of relief to the farmers who have been affected. But I must submit that the farmers in the State of Karnataka have been fighting with severe drought for the last four years. Around 850 people have died because of drought and around 450 people have so far committed suicide. In my home district Hasan only, there have been a few deaths.

13.16 hrs.                              (Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair)

Why has such a situation arisen? The farmers have suffered because of severe drought conditions. They were unable to clear their old debts. The crop loan for this year has been rescheduled for seven years. This step is not at all going to help the cause of the farmers. How could the farmers go in for their second crop? What is the support that the Government is providing to them? It has only asked NABARD to give loans. But still the farmers are unable to go for their second crop because of the damage caused to the soil. There has been erosion and reclamation of the soil. All these problems would invariably have to be fought by the farmers before they could go in for their second crop. If one visits the area it would be seen that the entire top soil of that area has been completely washed away and the condition is so bad that one would even find it difficult to enter that area. As you would know, it is a black cotton soil. I believe, an inter-Ministerial Group comprising of the hon. Finance Minister, the hon. Home Minister and the hon. Agriculture Minister is working on this. Though I understand that it would entail a heavy burden on the Central Government, yet to save the farmers, I would make an honest and sincere demand that the entire loan amount sanctioned to the farmers for this year – those  farmers who have lost their entire crop, crops like sugarcane, jowar, soyabean – should be waived for this year. This is my humble request. The Government should not consider just providing normal relief measures. This is a colonial approach that we have adopted from the imperialist powers. But I would like to request the Government to take all steps to see that the entire loan amount for this year, for those farmers who have lost their entire crop, is waived. Even a House Committee, consisting of Members from all political parties, could be sent to visit the area. It would not be possible for the State Government to provide relief to the affected people because the resources of the State are very limited.

Sir, a decision has been taken by NABARD that for small farmers a loan of Rs. 50,000 would be converted into a medium-term loan to be repaid in seven years with a moratorium for the first two years. Now, I must submit here that there are no big farmers so to say after vigorous pursuance of the policy of land reforms that was first initiated during the times of the late Morarji Desai. So, for all the farmers, the loan amount at least for this current year should be waived-the Government may reschedule the loan of the previous years.[snb16]

As [bru17] regards sugarcane, they have already entered into an agreement with the sugarcane factories for Rs. 1200 per tonne.  Even if you take 50 tonnes per acre, the crop value at the rate of Rs. 1200 per tonne comes to Rs. 60,000 per acre.  What is the use of this rescheduling business or a moratorium for two years?  I sincerely request your goodself to please see that the entire loan for this year is totally waived off. Whether it is the loan from commercial banks or district central banks, the loan should be totally abolished.

The other point on which the Government should pay attention is the crop insurance.  Crop insurance is there.  They will provide for it.  But there is no question of any insurance in the case of sugarcane, soyabeans and some of the horticulture crops.  It is an optional one.  If they want it, they can go in for it.  Otherwise, they may not opt for it.  I have enquired from many people about it. They have not taken any protection under the so-called crop insurance.  When there is no crop insurance, how will the farmers be able to sustain?  This is an issue to be tackled.  The hon. Agriculture Minister is here.  I am grateful to him that he is present in the House and I hope he will give a suitable reply.  I would request that for this year – not for all the years – the present loan should be waived off. For the next crop, interest-free loan should be given.  This is my sincere demand.

About construction of houses, the amount is Rs. 10,000.  That is the guideline given by the NABARD.  What is the fun in giving this amount?  How can the people reconstruct their houses when their entire house is demolished? The people belonging to Scheduled Castes and the landless labourers have nothing left with them.  So, the construction of houses should be taken up by the Government itself with full responsibility.  An amount of Rs. 40,000 is given to the people as it was done in the case of adversely affected by Tsunami.  The amount of Rs. 40,000 is given to each family whether they belong to Scheduled Castes or are landless labourers or whichever community they belong to.   What is the way out for people living below the poverty line while fixing a guideline? The houses of all such people should be reconstructed and the entire cost should be borne by the Government.   The people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have to deposit 10 per cent of the total amount.  I think the total amount is Rs. 20,000 or Rs. 25,000 under the Indira Awas Yojana or the Ambedkar Scheme. They may be given only Rs. 10,000 and the remaining amount should be a loan.  For others, there is nothing provided.  I would sincerely request the hon. Minister for Agriculture on this point.  Although I have discussed the matter with the Finance Minister, I would appeal to the Prime Minister on this issue.  I would appeal to the hon. Home Minister who has replied the other day on some of these issues.   I have seen the ground reality by visiting these areas for three days.  The conditions of the farmers are so bad that it is very difficult for them to survive.  They cannot survive and they may have to commit suicide.  In Southern Karnataka also, particularly in Hemavati, I myself know that 1.5 lakh cusecs of water have been flown.  For the first time, such a heavy flood has occurred.  We have never seen such a thing before in our life.  It is an unexpected rain this time even in the Cauvery Basin.  All the southern districts are affected adversely.

As regards ginger cultivation, the cost of cultivation is Rs. 1,35,000.  You can ask your officers also about this point[bru18] .

The cost of cultivation itself is Rs. 1,35,000.  Of course, if there is a good crop, they can pay Rs. 6 lakh or Rs. 7 lakh or Rs. 8 lakh.  Unfortunately, this year, more than 30,000 acres of ginger crop in Hassan district has been totally spoilt.  I have personally visited those areas along with the officers.  It is all rotten and smelling.  You cannot even see that.  When the Central team visited those areas, the floods did not rescind.  They were unable to get full facts.  You can send the team again.  Let them re-assess the whole thing.  Let them update the whole thing as to what is the crop loss, what is the actual loan amount from the financial institutions, from the commercial banks or from the cooperative banks.  All the loans for this year of the farmers should be waived. In the next year, for the crop loans only interest should be charged.  For building houses, Rs. 40,000 should be given to all the affected people, whether they are Scheduled Castes, landless labourers or people belonging to any other community.  The Government of India should treat this as a special situation and circumstance.  Please do not take shelter under normal guidelines or the NABARD guidelines or the Reserve Bank of India guidelines.  It is an alarming situation.  Otherwise, once the farmers lose their patience, things will go from bad to worse.  With all sincerity, you had gone there and studied the situation.  I compliment you for that.  The hon. Prime Minister also went to see the spot.  Hon. President of the Indian National Congress, Shrimati Soniaji had also gone there.  You have to save the situation.  Shri Sharad Pawar, the Finance Minister and the Home Minister, all the three together should come to the rescue of the poor farmers.

With these words, I would like to conclude.

SHRIMATI TEJASWINI SEERAMESH I would like to associate myself with what the hon. Member, Shri Devegowda, has said about the plight of the farmers, particularly in the northern Karnataka.  The hon. Member has very correctly explained the situation.  Shri Sharad Pawar, who is the true son of the soil, knows the plight of the farmers.  The State of Karnataka had drought for the past four and a half years.  I will be very grateful to the Central Government, particularly to Shri Sharad Pawar and the Finance Minister, if they waive the loans as well as the interest for four and a half years.  This is my humble request.

SHRI S. BANGARAPPA I may kindly be allowed to associate myself with what the hon. Member, Shri Devegowda, said just now.  I have also toured all these areas, particularly these four districts, Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkot and Gulbarga for about three to four days.  Of course, you had also visited our districts.  All these areas come under Krishna basin.  The water has flown down from Maharashtra, may be from Ujjaini, Koyna, etc.  You cannot avoid that when there is heavy downpour, when there is cloudburst in the catchment areas of Krishna basin, especially in Maharashtra. Heavy flooding was there.  Thousands of houses have collapsed.  Nearly 26,000 houses have collapsed in one district.   I am highly thankful to the hon. Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar for having visited these areas and for having announced certain relief measures to the affected people, who have lost standing crops in their respective lands or their houses.

The only demand that we are making, as usual, is to release more funds to the State Government.  Otherwise, the State Government cannot deal with the demands of the local people.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Shri Bangarappa, you can only associate yourself with the hon. Member.

SHRI S. BANGARAPPA : That is what I said.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: You are making a long speech.

SHRI S. BANGARAPPA : I understand that.  That is why I am saying I am associating myself with what he has said.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: That is more than sufficient.

SHRI S. BANGARAPPA : In Shimoga, which is my constituency, Wardha river is there.  That also comes under Krishna basin[r19] . Thousands of acres are completely inundated. Even now, water is there. Of course, enumeration of acre-wise loss and all those things has been done by the State Government. But the point is that unless there is more release of funds from the Government of India, the State Government is not in a position to come to the aid of these people.  Therefore, I am making a request to the hon. Prime Minister and also the hon. Agriculture Minister. Instead, I have written letters also to both.  Perhaps, you might have received it yesterday, or, today you are going to receive that letter. Please take action immediately. Shri Devegowda has explained all those things in detail, and I appreciate. The point is we are now requesting you to release more funds immediately to the State Government of Karnataka.

SHRI S. MALLIKARJUNIAH Sir, I associate myself with this.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Wait a minute. Though it is not a practice, I would allow you, Mr. Mallikarjuniahji because you also belong to the same State. You can only associate with this.

SHRI S. MALLIKARJUNIAH : Definitely, Sir. I associate myself with this.

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, the hon. Member, Shri Devegowdaji has raised a very important issue, which the State of Karnataka has faced recently. It is true that this year’s flood and rains, especially in Krishna and Bhima basins, were abnormal. In fact, Shri Devegowdaji, myself and Shri Bangarappaji have been associated with the State Government for a number of years. For a number of years, there was a discussion between us whether Maharashtra should release more water in the Krishna basin or Bhima basin. But this was the first year that both the States were taking a different line.  There was a request that if it is possible to stop water, that can be used. … (Interruptions) It is true that in the entire belt, there was abnormal rain. Rain and flood have really created havoc in both the States. The damage is abnormal and whatever information has been given by hon. Devegowdaji, which has been supported by hon. Members Smt. Tejaswini and Shri Bangarappaji and from the other side, by Shri Mallikarjuniahji, I entirely agree with that proposition.  I have myself visited some of the areas but not all the districts. In Belgaum, Chikori, Raibagh, Athni and certain other areas, I myself have seen what type of damage has been caused by this flood and extra rains.  On many occasions, we have seen this type of situation in the country. But the overall size of the damage is such that we have come to the conclusion that Karnataka alone cannot face this type of situation.  So, in this situation it is the responsibility of the Government of India to support all these affected people. The crop that has been damaged in the entire belt has really ruined the entire farming community of that area.  The damage of the public property is also abnormal.  In this situation, we have to take a different approach.  It is true that there are some norms which have been introduced in the country, which we are implementing for many years. Shri Devegowdaji has given a proposal and suggestion that we have to give second thought to the entire norms. It is true that when there was a problem due to Tsunami, the Government of India took a different approach to resolve that problem.  I would like to assure this House and through this House, to the affected people of all these States – whether they are from Gujarat, Maharashtra or Karnataka or any other State – in this situation, we will definitely look into the matter of these norms.  We will take up a pragmatic approach.  For instance, Shri Devegowdaji has made a suggestion about the monitoring provision for construction of houses[mks20] .

It is true that today the provision is for Rs.10,000. It is also true that at the time of the Tsunami problem, we introduced  new norms,  that is,  up to Rs.40,000 plus land cost. I have no hesitation in accepting the suggestion which the hon. Member Shri Devegowda has made.

The problem of crop loss is there. Especially, sugarcane, tomato, soyabean, banana and groundnut have been practically wiped out. I do not think the farmer is in a position to face the situation. He will be out from farming at least in the next two to three years. That is why, one has to take a different approach.

The hon. Member suggested certain things, for instance, waiver of interest, waiver of loan. These are the issues that we have to discuss with the NABARD and the Reserve Bank. The Government cannot take these decisions because money has been provided by various banks. Unless and until some arrangement has been made from our side, we would not be able to resolve that problem. But I would like to assure the hon. Members and the House that we will definitely look into the matter.

Recently, a team was sent by Government of India. The team has returned from Karnataka yesterday night only. We are expecting that they will give their report in another three or four days’ time. Today only, I got a request from the hon. Chief Minister of Karnataka from Gulbarga and from the hon. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Prakash from Bangalore saying that whatever proposal has been submitted by the Government of Karnataka is not sufficient; that is an initial proposal and the Government of Karnataka would like to give their secondary proposal.

SHRI H.D. DEVEGOWDA :  They want to give a comprehensive proposal.

SHRI SHARAD PAWAR: Yes, they would like to give a comprehensive proposal in a week’s time. The hon. Chief Minister has communicated to me. He and his colleagues would like to come to Delhi in the next week and they would like to

give a power point presentation to the hon. Prime Minister and others about the damages to crops. They are going to visit Delhi on 1st or 2nd.  Definitely we will get all the information from the State Government.

We have also got a similar request from Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Chief Minister also, along with his team, would like to visit Delhi; would like to give a detailed presentation and their final report. I would like to assure that whatever report, information, additional information that will be given by them, that also would be re-assessed. We will call the meeting of the High Level Committee as early as possible and give proper support to resolve this problem in all the three States.

It is true that the situation is not normal. That is why, the Government of India has to take a very positive approach. I would like to say that we will take a positive approach. At this juncture, the Government of India will support both the States.

SHRI H.D. DEVEGOWDA : While thanking the hon. Minister for Agriculture, I would like to give only one suggestion for the consideration of the Union Government. So far as reimbursement of the loan amount is concerned, I have demanded that they should waive it. Unless the Central Government is going to reimburse the nationalised banks, they will not agree to it because we know the guidelines of the Reserve Bank and the NABARD. Unless the Government of India takes the responsibility to reimburse the entire amount for at least this  year, it is practically impossible. That is why, I would humbly request the Government to consider it. Not only I make this on the floor of the House, but also I had already met the hon. Finance Minister. I must compliment the Agriculture Minister who knows the subject very well. I will meet the Prime Minister. This is an issue concerning the entire House. If you go there, you can see that it is such a pathetic situation that something is to be done immediately. Mr. Minister, I would welcome you again. I would thank you very much for your kind consideration. Before I went there and before the other leaders went there, you went there and had seen some of the villages in Belgaum district. In almost all the areas, the farmers are suffering. The Krishna Basin is suffering. The Cauvery Basin is equally bad. I would request you to come once again and see for yourself the situation.  The Inter-Ministerial Team has seen the pathetic situation that  Karnataka is facing. I would request you to bail it out. We will be grateful to you.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR (BANGALORE SOUTH):  Sir, I thank you very much. At the outset, I would like to share the concern  of the former Prime Minister of India hon. Shri Devegowda and the former Chief Minister of Karnataka hon. Shri Bangarappa. As the House very well knows, last week I had raised a Calling Attention when the hon. Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar was here[R21] . Shri Shivraj Patilji gave the reply.  I requested him that it is a Tsunami-like flood in Karnataka and the whole Karnataka State has been devastated.  More than five lakh acres of crop loss is there.  Therefore, Advaniji, myself, Ramesh Jigajinagiji and Yediurappaji also visited the flood-affected areas.  Sir, 130 people are dead.  More than 12,000 cattle have died.  We have requested that a package of Rs. 3,272 crore should be given.  We also requested that the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF), guidelines should be revised because now for an acre of dry land they are giving Rs. 400, for wet land they are giving Rs. 1,000 and for garden land they are giving Rs. 1600.  We have requested that Rs. 10,000 should be given per acre.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER:  He has already said that.  They will look into the matter.

SHRI H.D. DEVEGOWDA :  This time, the entire crop loan should be waived… (Interruptions)

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR :  I entirely agree that the entire crop loan should be waived.  We are not only saying that the entire crop loan should be waived but we are saying that compensation should also be given over and above that.

SHRI H.D. DEVEGOWDA :  Let us not dilute the issue.  The entire crop loan for this year for all farmers should be waived.  In addition to that, the compensation should be given for the crop based on the actual loss.  I have made all these requests.  He wanted to take this issue before the Cabinet and consider it.  This is altogether a different matter.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR :  Sir, our hon. former Prime Minister has raised that the entire crop loan should be waived.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER:  You have made your point.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR :  The entire crop loan should be waived and the hon. Agriculture Minister is ready to compensate the entire crop loss.  We are more than happy but that is our demand.  He should reply.  He should kindly respond again.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER:  Thank you.  He has given the reply.  Please sit down.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR (BANGALORE SOUTH) Sir, I call the attention of the Minister of Home Affairs to the following matter of urgent public importance and request that he may make a statement thereon:

“The situation arising out of flood in Karnataka, particularly in Belgaum, Bagalkot, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Raichur and Mangalore resulting in loss of lives, damage to crops and property and steps taken by the Government in regard thereto.”

THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL) Sir, the State of Karnataka, during current South-West Monsoon, has received 706 mm rainfall as against its normal rainfall of 605.3 mm, that is, 17 per cent more than the average normal rainfall till 19th August, 2005.

Some parts of the State received moderate to heavy rainfall in the months of June and July, 2005. The latest spell of heavy rainfall in the State commenced from 23rd July, 2005 and lasted for about three weeks. These heavy rains filled up almost all reservoirs and caused unprecedented floods in the major rivers of the State[KMR14] .

*Also placed in Library, See No. LT 2706/05

The major rivers and their tributaries which went into spate were the Cauvery, Bhima, Tungabhadra, Hemavathi, Krishna, Vedganga, Ghataprabha, Netravathi and Kamaradhara.  Because of the heavy inflow of water in the reservoirs, most of the reservoirs in the State, namely, KRS, Harangi, Kabini, Tungabhadra, Hemavathi, Almatti, Narayanpur, Hidkal and Bhadra were overflowing.  However, with the decline of rainfall activity in the region, now, the water level in all these rivers and reservoirs has started receding and the situation is improving.

The Krishna Basin, spanning over five districts, namely, Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Gulbarga and Raichur were the worst affected.  In addition, Dakshin Kannada district was also affected due to high sea waves. The district-wise details of these six districts, in terms of damage and rescue and relief operations undertaken are given in the Annexure.

MR. SPEAKER Hon. Members, please be silent.  Otherwise, I will discontinue the discussion.  It is a very important issue.  You can go out and discuss.  I do not stop that.

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: Based on preliminary estimates made by the State Government, the cumulative impact of the heavy rains and floods in Karnataka, during the entire South-West Monsoon is:

No. of districts affected                               :           19

No. of talukas affected                                 :           16

No. of villages affected                                :           1,315

No. of villages inundated/marooned            :           250

Population affected                                       :           29.05 lakhs

No. of human lives lost                                 :           130

No. of livestock perished                             :           11,601

No. of houses damaged                                 :           88,240

Cropped area damaged                                  :           1.96 lakh hectare

Damage to infrastructure                              :           Rs.578.80 crore

(roads, public buildings, bridges, etc.)

Total estimated loss                                      :           Rs.2,079 crore

The Government of Karnataka initiated immediate rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.  The Government of India helped the Government of Karnataka.  Twelve platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police Force and 400 Home Guard personnel, nine columns of the Army, 219 mechanized boats, four IAF helicopters, eight relief teams of Indian Army were mobilized and deployed for rescue and relief operations.

Elaborate medical arrangements comprising teams of doctors, ambulances and a medical team of the Indian Navy have been deployed in order to prevent the outbreak of any water borne diseases and post-flood epidemic.  Veterinary doctors have also been deployed in the affected areas.

The Government of India have already released Rs.143.00 crore to the Government of Karnataka to enable the State Government to undertake rescue and relief operations in different flood affected areas.

On 16th August, 2005, the hon. Prime Minister had announced an additional amount of Rs.300 crore to the State Government.  The hon. Prime Minister has also announced that all possible assistance will be extended to the State Government for restoring normalcy in the affected areas and a special relief package by NABARD  to the affected farmers of the region.

For long term rehabilitation and reconstruction, the Government will constitute an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the lines of Core Group set up by the Planning Commission for Tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The State Government has submitted its memorandum.  The total provisional damage, as per the latest estimates is Rs.2,079 crore.  A Central Team has already visited the State between 17th and 20th August, 2005 to assess the damage and the requirements of funds for relief operations[R15] .

I would like to assure the august House that the Government will extend all necessary assistance to the Government of Karnataka for meeting the situation caused by heavy rains and floods.  The Ministry of Home Affairs is in constant touch with the State Government.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, Karnataka has witnessed the severest of floods in the last 100 years.  Before I ask for clarifications, through you, Sir, I want to request the hon. Home Minister to sort out the discrepancies in his statement, because according to the preliminary memorandum given by the State Government of Karnataka on 5th August, and the recent submissions they have made to the hon. Prime Minister and the hon. Agriculture Minister in Panaji, they have said that the number of Talukas affected is 66.  But somehow in the statement, it has been stated that the number of Talukas affected is 16.

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: It should be 66. I am sorry; it can be corrected.

MR. SPEAKER:  Is it 60?

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: It is 66.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Secondly, Sir, regarding the total estimated loss, the hon. Chief Minister and the hon. Deputy Chief Minister have told in the All-Party meeting in Bangalore, which has been widely publicized in the newspapers also, that they are sending a memorandum to the Union Government for an amount of Rs. 3,272 crore.

The floods and the releases from the Koina dam in Krishna River have affected the entire northern parts of Karnataka… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER:  Mr. Rajaram Pal, if you want to speak, then you may go out.  I have not called you, please sit down.  This is not a place for internal meetings here.  I will not permit this.  This is a bad habit being developed.   A very important issue is being discussed.  If you do not wish to hear, you can go outside, please.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, it is a very sad state of affairs that the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka have failed in their rescue, relief, rehabilitation and compensation activities.  Calamity management has collapsed.  The floods have hit on 23rd July, and today after one month, after the announcement of the hon. Prime Minister when he came to Panaji with the hon. Agriculture Minister, he could not visit the flood-affected areas of Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Raichur, because of the inclement weather.  He said that Rs. 300 crore will be released immediately.  But to my amazement, till now, Karnataka has got only Rs. 100 crore  — Rs. 43 crore  as Karnataka’s due from Management Relief Care and Rs. 57 crore  from the National Calamity Contingency Fund. Therefore, through you, Sir, I want the hon. Home Minister to again verify those figures.

Regarding Rs. 300 crore, which has been announced, and today I spoke to the Revenue Secretary, Government of Karnataka also, that even after six days after the announcement from the hon. Prime Minister, there has been no order of the draft or cheque for that amount of Rs. 300 crore.  They have not received it.  Not only that, it is heart-wrenching that yesterday, the hon. Chief Minister of Karnataka, when he was in Gulbarga,  — according to media reports  — has expressed great annoyance that the amount, whatever has been released, has not been distributed to any affected farmers[k16] .

According to the Chief Minister, till this moment, not a single farmer, who has lost his cattle, his house or crops, has been given a single naya paisa.  Not only that, according to media reports, when he spoke to the Revenue Secretary, Karnataka, he replied: “…because we have not received any amount, especially those 300 crore rupees from the Government of India as announced by the Prime Minister, we have not distributed anything.”  For that, the Chief Minister of Karnataka has replied: “This is not the way to help distressed people.”  This is the situation out there.  The reason why I am bringing all this in front of you and this august House is that the hon. Home Minister and the hon. Agriculture Minister have handled many natural calamities.  Especially, the hon. Home Minister had been a witness to the catastrophe that occurred due to earthquake in Latur.  They know as to how much it is necessary that they be given immediate relief and compensation.

Despite inclement weather, we – the hon. Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha, Shri Advaniji,  Ramesh Jigajinagiji, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Shri Yediyurappaji and myself – visited the affected areas on the 19th . We landed there with great difficulty and went to a rehabilitation centre at Janawada, 31 kilometres from Athani, Belgaum District. More than 8,000 farmers are awaiting relief for the last one month.  They are living in most deplorable conditions.  Therefore, I urge the Union Government that it should accept this request for Rs. 3,272 crore as a flood-relief grant from the Union Government. Half of the amount – Rs. 1,500 crore – should be immediately released today only.  Not only should it be released, it should also see that it is distributed to the affected people.

Sir, the second clarification I want to put forth to the hon. Agriculture Minister, Shri Sharad Pawarji.  He is all too keen to revise the guidelines of the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF).  It is a mockery.  As per the present guidelines, if the crop is lost due to flood in a dryland, compensation is Rs. 400 per acre, in a wet land, it is a thousand rupees per acre and in garden land, it is 1,600 rupees per acre.  He and Shri Shivraj Patilji know very well, and the entire House also appreciates it, that a farmer loses Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 50,000 rupees per acre when such things happen. If a paltry sum of Rs. 400, Rs. 1000 or Rs. 1,600 is given, it is of no avail.  The CRF norms are mainly for the drought hits.  There is a great difference between Tsunami, flood and earthquake and drought because whenever the Tsunami – Tsunami is a sea flood and flood is by the rivers and rains – floods or earthquake comes, the destruction is immediate.  Therefore, we urge the Government that it should revise the guidelines immediately; it should see this difference and should raise it to Rs. 10,000 per acre.

They are only giving Rs. 6,000 rupees for one destroyed house whereas for the Tsunami package, the Government of India has decided that Rs. 40,000 per house will be given.  What is the difference when a house of a poor farmer is destroyed because of a flood or a Tsunami?  Therefore, I urge that the same amount of Rs. 40,000 should be given.  In the CRF guidelines for the infrastructure – especially for roads, bridges, bundings, canals, etc. – and also for electrical transformers – no amount is given.  Only a small amount has been kept for the repair but nothing is kept for reconstruction of the devastated infrastructure[pkp17] .

Therefore, the CRF guidelines should be immediately re-drawn and it should be taken up immediately.

The last clarification is this. Both the hon. Home Minister and the hon. Agriculture Minister knew that Koina Dam which holds 93 tmc ft. of water is a dangling sword both for Karnataka as well as for Maharashtra. Recently on the 1st of August, the 3rd of August and the 14th of August, there have been earthquakes near Koina; according to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the magnitude of the earthquake is 2.7 to 3.2 on the Richter scale. Due to these three recent earthquakes in that area, the Koina Dam had developed many cracks. Therefore, there is scare-driven reservoir management on Koina and they are releasing water without any coordination with the Irrigation Department of the Karnataka Government.

Due to this ‘dangling sword’ Koina, the areas of Sangli, Kolapur and Satara in Maharashtra and the entire Krishna basin areas of Karnataka, especially Belgaum, Bagalkot, Gulbarga, Bijapur and Raichur, are going to get seriously disturbed. I want to bring to the notice of the Union Government that Krishna River starts as a small river in Maharashtra, but before coming into Karnataka – with Koina, Erla, Varana, Ved Ganga, Dhoodh Ganga and Panch Ganga – it becomes a mighty Krishna River. So, six Rivers are coming into Krishna. Therefore, I urge upon the Union Government that they should direct the Central Water Commission to monitor the safety of Koina Dam and Koina Reservoir.

If Koina is not safe, the entire Krishna basin areas in Karnataka will be flooded and it will add to the rain havoc and it will add to the flood havoc; and there will be an artificial tsunami in the State of Karnataka. Finally, the breach on Koina Dam should be repaired. Till it is repaired, they should not store 93 tmc ft. of water because of the consequent dangers.

So, ultimately I request that 50 per cent of the estimated loss of Rs.3,272 crore should be immediately released; the CRP guidelines should be revised; and Koina Dam’s safety should be ensured. Thank you very much.

SHRI S. MALLIKARJUNIAH : Hon. Speaker Sir, Gulbarga, Belgaum, Bidar, Bijapura, Raichur and other districts in North Karnataka and some districts in Southern Karnataka are seriously affected by the recent floods. The people in the coastal Karnataka are also affected by the recent floods in the State. I do not want to go into the details. I endorse all the views expressed by Shri Ananth Kumarji.

I urge upon the Centre to come to the rescue of the people of Karnataka who are severely affected by floods. I hope that a substantial amount would be released by the Centre as demanded by the State for the relief works.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Please take your seat. Let me conduct it.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: This is a very important issue and I have allowed it. It was very ably put and very exhaustively put. I am sure the hon. Minister will reply to that.

Now, I wish to read out the names of the hon. Members who would associate with Shri Ananth Kumar.

… (Interruptions)

__________________________________________________________________*Translation of the speech originally delivered in Kannada.

MR. SPEAKER: Please do not do this. I have got names of ten hon. Members here. I cannot allow everybody[R18] .

S/Shri Suresh Angadi, D.V. Sadanand Gowda, Gaddigoudar, Prahlad Joshi, G.M. Siddeswara, Basangouda R. Patil, Ramesh Chandappa, Jigajinagi, Manjunath Kunnur and M. Shivanna, all of them, very rightly, wanted to associate with it.  I will not allow anybody to speak.  They are allowed to associate with it.  Now, the hon. Minister will reply.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, Shri Sadanand Gowda may be allowed to speak.… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: I am sorry.  I cannot pick and choose.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: I would then say that the hon. Minister need not reply.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: I have read out all the names.  You all are associating with it.  It is not possible to allow you.  I am very-very sorry.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Nothing will go on record except the Minister’s submissions.

(Interruptions) *

MR. SPEAKER: Only hon. Minister’s statement will go on record.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: You are not doing justice to your State.  Hon. Members, you are not doing justice to your State.  I will not allow it.  The issue has been raised very exhaustively.  I have allowed this matter to be raised.  I cannot pick and choose between ten Members.  I am sorry.

SHRI D.V. SADANAND GOWDA (MANGALORE): At least one minute may be given to me… (Interruptions)

*Not Recorded

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL : Sir, the Government of Karnataka had indicated… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Do you not want to listen to the reply?  Let me know.  I will ask him not to reply.  I am sorry.  I will not allow.  I have said, I cannot discriminate between ten Members.  I am sorry.  Your names have been recorded.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Ananth Kumar, if you do not want to hear the reply, I will request the Minister not to reply.  I will move on to the next item.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: No, I cannot allow.  There are nine Members.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Minister to coastal Karnataka .… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister will also deal with coastal Karnataka.  This is not the way.  There are some rules, some procedure.  I did not interrupt your Members.  Please take your seats.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Yes, that is the case.  I have allowed him to speak for 22 minutes.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Coastal Karnataka and Mangalore are the affected areas.… (Interruptions)  The affected areas of Southern Karnataka also require attention by the Government.… (Interruptions)

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL:  I will reply to that also.

MR. SPEAKER: This is not the way.  Do not pressurise the Chair.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: If you are so concerned, you should have given a separate notice.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: I am sorry.  Shall I ask the Minister not to reply?  Shri Ananth Kumar, it is entirely for you.  I request the leaders of the Party.

SHRI D.V. SADANAND GOWDA : I am walking out in protest.… (Interruptions)

SHRI MANJUNATH KUNNUR (DHARWAD SOUTH): You are not giving time to the new Members.  So, I am walking out in protest.… (Interruptions)

12.34 hrs.

At this stage, Shri D.V. Sadanand Gowda, Manjunath Kunnur

and some other hon. Members left the House.

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: I am sorry, Sir.  The hon. Members could have signed this statement.

MR. SPEAKER: I cannot allow ten more Members to speak.  Shri Ananth Kumar has made an exhaustive statement.  This is not the way.  Two hon. Members of the same Party have made their submissions.  I appreciate it.  I never interrupted anyone of them. It cannot go on and on. Ten Members want to put questions.  There are methods of putting question in this House.  If you say that you are a new Member, you should also know how to behave in the House.

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: Sir, the Government of Karnataka had initially estimated that the losses sustained were to the tune of Rs.1301 crore[R19] .

Now this estimate was changed later on and they suggested that Karnataka had sustained the losses to the tune of Rs.2079 crore.  Mr. Ananth Kumar, hon. Member, has said that they have now come to the conclusion that the losses would be in the vicinity of Rs.3273 crore.  We have already said that let them calculate the losses sustained and let them come to the final conclusion and when we receive their final memorandum, the demand made by the Government of Karnataka can be properly considered for appropriate response to their demand.  So let us not quarrel with these figures because they have not ultimately come to the final figure which would be given to the Government of India.

Sir, the procedure which is followed in giving relief and assistance to the people who are affected is this.  When a calamity occurs, the immediate response is to save the lives, to bring them out of the dangerous situations and to give them food, temporary shelter and medicines.  That is the first step which is taken by any Government in any calamity.  The Government of Karnataka had done that  immediately after the floods started inundating the area. The people living in the villages, which were inundated, were rescued.  They were taken to the safe places and were given food, clothing, medicine, and shelter also.  That is the first step they have taken.

The second step which is generally taken after this is to provide them some shelter where they can live for a few months and give them some means which they can use to earn a livelihood for themselves.  In some areas, foodgrains are supplied, which are sufficient for one month or two months or three months.  At some places, the jobs are given to them and the money is also distributed.  A small amount of money is given to each of the family.  In some places, Rs.5000 and at some places more than Rs.5000 are given.  If any person has died in any family because of the calamity, the compensation is given to that family and that compensation is in lakhs of rupees.  This is the second step which is taken.

The third step which is generally taken is to find out the actual damages sustained by the area.  If the electricity supply lines are damaged, if the drinking water projects are damaged and if the houses have collapsed, they calculate the actual damage which is sustained.  Then they make all estimates and proper estimates are made and those estimates are given to the Government of India.

Here a committee is appointed consisting of officers coming from different Departments to consider the memorandum given by them and then a decision is taken.  The amount of money which is required for this purpose is huge.  It is a very big amount of money.  It is not possible for us to provide funds out of the two Funds which are at the disposal of the Government.  The funds which are required are really very huge and on the basis of their demands and the assessment done by the Government of India, the matter is taken to the Cabinet and the money is given to them.

The Government of Karnataka is a big and strong Government.  We have been in discussion with them.  Initially, an amount of Rs.140 crore has been given to them which has to be used for the first phase of meeting the requirement of the people because of this calamity[r20] .

I have signed the file saying that a sum of Rs. 300 crore shall be given as per announcements made by the hon. Prime Minister and Shri Sharad Pawar when they were there. That amount is also going to them. Later on, when they come with the final memorandum, that memorandum will be discussed and then it would be decided as to what amount of money will be given. That amount of money is not going to be required immediately. The job which has to be done to restore the infrastructure over there is going to take years and years. It is not going to be immediately done. So, it is not necessary that we fill gunny bags with currency notes and send them there. If we take a decision that a particular amount of money will be given to them, that amount of money shall be made available to the Government of Karnataka. The Government of Karnataka is in a position to use the funds that are with them. We have asked them not to worry about these things and they should manage these things.

Sir, as far as the earthquake in Koina is concerned, Shri Sharad Pawar told me – he was the person who was responsible for managing the calamity which had occurred in Latur as the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra – that immediately after tremors were felt  in the region an expert Committee was sent to Koina. That Committee examined whether the dam that is constructed was strong enough or not to withstand the tremors which could be caused because of an earthquake. At that time the Committee had come to certain conclusions and the dam was strengthened. I was also told that the area suffers from tremors of around 2 to 3 or sometimes even less than 2 to 3 on the Richter scale. However, may I put before this august House that the entire Earth of ours is all the time trembling. There is not a moment when the Earth is not trembling, whether it is trembling at 2 or 3 on the Richter scale or less than that is the question. We do not have to bother about these things. Moreover, the Government of Karnataka is taking care of it and the hon. Members could go back to their respective States and constituencies and assure the people that necessary steps have been taken, otherwise unnecessarily there will be a scare  created amongst the people because of the statements made in the Parliament itself.  The Government of Maharashtra has taken steps and whatever is necessary will certainly be done. It is not going to cause any damage over there… (Interruptions)

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, a breach has already occurred in the dam. It is the report of the BARC… (Interruptions) The Government should take it very seriously. It is not an ordinary matter… (Interruptions)

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: This is exactly what I am submitting. Without getting full information if you, a former Minister and a sitting MP, are making such statements, then nothing but a scare will be created amongst the people. It has not happened.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, the point is that it is not my statement. This is the statement of BARC… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Ananth Kumar, you have expressed your views, the hon. Minister has refuted that. Let both the views be there.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: Whose statement are you referring to? … (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Minister, you have already refuted that.

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: Sir, this is not a simple thing. What is happening is that responsible persons are making all kinds of statements. This is creating a scare amongst the people. I am standing here as a Minister of the Government of India and making a statement, yet the hon. Member finds it difficult to rely on my statement being made on the floor of the House and willing to rely on what statements, I do not know. I am saying that it has not happened but he is again and again saying that it has happened. Shri Sharad Pawar has told me, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra has told me, we have acquired information and is making a statement on the floor of the House and yet he is insisting and sticking to his statement. Please for God sake let him not do that[snb21] .

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, I am mentioning about the basis of my statement… (Interruptions) The BARC has stated… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: You have already made certain observations and the hon. Minister has refuted those.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: Sir, this is exactly creating a scare. It should be avoided. If the hon. Member really wants to help the people in that area, then he should not create fear in their minds. On the contrary, the best thing for him would have been to talk to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and get the information from him and then say whether this has happened or not. Instead of doing that a person like him is making a statement like this. I would also look into this matter with great care and caution and I would go into it. But even after I have said that this has not happened, the hon. Member is repeating the same thing. I would request him not to do that. Necessary precaution has been taken… (Interruptions)

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, the point is that the Government of Karnataka is always abreast of this serious problem about the Koina dam. Therefore, it is not my personal opinion. It has been conveyed to Government of Maharashtra… (Interruptions) But they have not received anything… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Ananth Kumar, you have made your point. I have no manner of doubt that you have said what you felt was necessary. We have got the reply of the hon. Minister.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: Sir, I am sorry to say this but I thought that it would not have been difficult for Shri Ananth Kumar to understand the position who knows as to how the Government functions… (Interruptions)

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, the hon. Minister has not mentioned anything about the places like Chamrajnagar and such other places which lie in the southern part of Karnataka. What about the losses to the plantation crops? There is a Tsunami like situation in the coastal areas of Karnataka… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: This cannot go on like this.

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: Sir, I have said that whatever money is required by Government of Karnataka to help the people in these districts, not only in the coastal areas but also in other parts to Karnataka, to provide them with food, to provide them with shelter and  also to help agriculturists, that much of fund would be made available to them. It is for the people, the leaders from that area… (Interruptions)

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, it was said that the CRF guidelines would be changed. This is not fair… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Who is unfair?

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, the Government of India is unfair… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Discussion on this topic has gone on for 42 minutes now.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Sir, it is the question of 32 lakh people in the State.

MR. SPEAKER: Therefore, I have allowed you full time. The hon. Minister has given an exhaustive reply.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : What about the CRF guidelines?… (Interruptions)

SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL: We are not going to change the guidelines in this fashion. You can take it from me… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: It seems the hon. Member does not need a reply. If it continues like this, then I will have to adjourn the House. We are taking up two Calling Attentions every day. But unless the hon. Members co-operate, then it would not be possible. The maximum time taken to dispose of the Calling Attention should be 20 to 25 minutes.  If the Members do not co-operate, then I have to discontinue discussions under Calling Attention notices in future.

1254 hrs

(ii) Need to expedite approval of Kalasa and Banduri Nala projects

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR (BANGALORE SOUTH): I call the attention of the Minister of Water Resources to the following matter of urgent public importance and I request that he may make a statement thereon:

“Need to expedite the approval of Kalasa and Banduri Nala projects, tributaries to river Mahadayi, in Karnataka in order to solve the acute drinking water problem in the State.”

MR. SPEAKER: Silence please. Those who want to go out, may go out silently please. This is an important matter which is being discussed now.

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI): Sir, the Government of Karnataka in April, 2002 requested Union Government for clearance of their proposal from inter-State angle for diversion of 7.56 TMC of water from Mahadayi basin to Malprabha basin through implementation of Kalasa and Banduri Nala schemes to meet the drinking water needs of Hubli/Dharwad cities.

The Ministry of Water Resources gave ‘in-principle’ clearance to the proposal to meet the drinking water need of Hubli/Dharwad, from water availability angle, on 30th April, 2002. The Government of Goa in July, 2002 took strong exception to the grant of this clearance by the Ministry and requested for setting up of an Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunal under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 for resolution of the dispute. In view of this, the ‘in-principle’ clearance granted by the Ministry was placed ‘in abeyance’ in September, 2002 with a view to resolve the matter by an agreement between the two States, failing which, by an Award of the Tribunal. The Chief Minister of Goa in June, 2003 in his letter addressed to the hon. Prime Minister has expressed the desire of his State

*Also placed in Library, See No. LT 2639/05.

to settle the long-standing issue with Karnataka through negotiation. The two States have so far not concluded any agreement on the sharing of Mahadayi Water. Since 2004 till date Members of Parliament from Karnataka, hon. Chief Minister Mr. Dharam Singh and Irrigation Minister Mr. Mallikarjuna Kharge have called and met me on three occasions to resolve the issue including the mover of the Calling Attention motion.

The Ministry of Water Resources has been making efforts towards a negotiated settlement of Mahadayi water dispute and a meeting in this regard was convened by my predecessor during December, 2002. Also my Ministry had earlier proposed to convene the meetings of Chief Secretaries of the basin States of Mahadayi basin in the first week of January and the second week of February, 2005 which could not be held due to non-availability of Chief Secretary of Government of Goa. The Government of Goa later informed that the stand of Government of Goa with regard to finding out a negotiated settlement or going for a Tribunal may be known once the elected Government in Goa is in place again. After installation of popular Government in Goa, the Secretary, Water Resources has written a letter to the Chief Secretary, Goa on 20.6.2005 for seeking her convenience for holding a joint meeting with basin States of Mahadayi basin. Response from the Government of Goa is awaited. In the meantime, I had also proposed a meeting of Secretary, Water Resources, Government of Goa and Karnataka on 9.8.2005 at New Delhi on the above issue followed by my final intervention for a negotiated settlement, if possible, between the Chief Minister by first week of September, 2005. However, the meeting could not take place on 9.8.2005 due to non-availability of the officials of Government of Goa due to ongoing Assembly Session in Goa.

However, I have spoken to hon. Chief Minister of Goa on phone and he was kind enough to have agreed to have a meeting on the issue with the Government of Karnataka at my behest in mid-September, 2005. The exact date will be fixed in consultation with both the State Governments.

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Ananth Kumar.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Thank you, Sir. Mahadayi is one of the important rivers which emanates from Karnataka State in Khanapur Taluk and flows in Karnataka as well as Goa and ends up in the Arabian Sea. It flows 29 kilometres in Karnataka and 54 kilometres in Goa. There are many tributaries to this major river.

12.59 hrs (Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair)

The two tributaries, Kalasa Nala and Banduri Nala, are important. According to Central Water Commission’s ‘Yield Survey’, the total yield of the basin is 190 TMC to 220 TMC. The share of Karnataka, according to 75 per cent of the dependability, is 45 TMC feet of water. The parts of North Karnataka – we have other cities of Karnataka, other than Bangalore, like Hubli, Dharwad, as well as various tehsils like Navalgund, Nargund, Badami and hundreds of villages – are starving due to drinking water crisis.

13.00 hrs

This drinking water crisis has been persisting for the last 20 years. The situation is so bad now that millions of people there get drinking water only once in 15 days and it is worse during summer. Therefore, in 1992, the Government of Karnataka and Government of Goa held discussions at the Chief Ministers’ level, at ministerial level and also at the technical level. There was a proposal made by the Government of Karnataka for taking up two Nala diversion projects, one is Kalasa Nala diversion and another is Banduri Nala diversion, to divert 7.56 TMC ft. of water out of the yield of 45 TMC ft. of water of Karnataka to Malaprabha river so that the drinking water problem can be mitigated. But despite protracted negotiations, the sorry state of affairs continues even today.

Sir, I would like to briefly bring to the kind attention of this august House and the Government, through you, that meetings were held as early as in 1992, 1993 and 1996 to form a Technical Committee comprising of officers of both the States. Then NEERI of Nagpur was commissioned to have an environment impact assessment. NEERI, Nagpur gave a very clear report that there is no objection for taking up these Kalasa Nala and Banduri Nala diversion projects to divert 7.56 TMC ft. of water to Malaprabha river and later both the State Governments of Karnataka and Goa decided to pursue this report.

Sir, again meetings were held in 1998, 1999, 2000 and in 2002 there was an inter-State meeting held in New Delhi. In that meeting, the Chairman of the Central Water Commission expressed his regrets towards the attitude of the Government of Goa in bringing unnecessary objections because the Government of Goa, day in, day out, raised many objections. First they said that there should be an environment impact study. It was conducted by NEERI and it almost gave a green signal to these projects. Then they said that there should be a yield assessment study. The yield assessment study was conducted by the Central Water Commission and according to the yield assessment study, 45 TMC ft. of water was assured to Karnataka. Later, after the yield assessment study was done, the Government of Goa said that they require one more study to be conducted by the Meteorological Department. The Union Water Resources Ministry said that this study has already been conducted by the Central Water Commission while conducting the yield assessment study and if they want to conduct their own study, let them conduct it.

Sir, the Government of Goa has also been dilly-dallying as to whether they want a negotiated settlement or otherwise; umpteen number of times the Government of Goa said to the Union Water Resources Ministry and the Government of Karnataka that they want a negotiated settlement. During NDA’s regime, on 30.4.2002, in-principle clearance was given by the Central Water Commission and the Ministry of Water Resources for these Kalasa Nala and Banduri Nala projects.

But later, because of the protests from the Government of Goa, in-principle clearance was kept in abeyance. Later, as already stated by the hon. Minister, many all-party delegations, including the delegations of hon. Members, met the Prime Minister and the Union Minister of Water Resources. They assured us that there would be a time bound negotiated settlement and that they would also look into withdrawing of abeyance order.

I want to bring a serious matter to the knowledge of this House. In the last 14 months, the CWC has called four meetings. The first meeting was called on 16th April 2004; the second was called on 20th August 2004; the third meeting was called on 7th January 2005; and the fourth meeting was called on 15th February 2005. In these four meetings, they expected the representatives of Government of Karnataka and Government of Goa to have a negotiated settlement on this issue.

But, unfortunately, when such meetings have been called, on the direction of the hon. Minister of Water Resources, by none other than the Central Water Commission, all the four times, the Government of Goa had expressed inability to participate in these meetings. That has created a great amount of heart burning.

Sir, I want to bring to the kind attention of this House that for the last few months, all the legislators, all the hon. Members from Karantaka and thousands of farmers have been continuously waging an agitation in the towns of Nawalgond and surrounding areas, including Hubli-Dharwad cities. The only contention is that the matter is pending for the last 20 years and the negotiations are going on from 1992 onwards. In 1992, the Government of Goa stated that they would pursue the NEERI report and continue with the project. Later on, they have also assured the Prime Minister and the hon. Minister of Water Resources that they wanted a negotiated settlement.

The total yield is 220 TMC feet. Out of the 220 TMC feet, the total yield of Karnataka State is 45 TMC feet. We are urging only for the diversion of 7.56 TMC feet of water and that too only for drinking purposes and not for irrigation purposes. Without this 7.56 TMC feet of water, the entire northern Karnataka area is reeling under severe drinking water crisis.

I urge upon the hon. Minister and the Government of India that they should immediately intervene in this matter. The hon. Minister has been kind enough in holding the meetings with the representatives of northern Karnataka, especially, the hon. Members of that area and the Government of Karnataka. But somehow, it is a story of protraction. I do not know why the Government of Goa is not cooperating.

The hon. Minister is in a very vantage position, the UPA is governing at the Centre and the constituent of UPA is governing in Goa, when the Union Government in principle has already agreed for this diversion and the Government of Goa is also ready for a negotiated settlement.

In other areas, that is, between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, pending the final decision of the Tribunal, water is already flowing to Tamil Nadu for irrigation purposes. But this is a matter of water for drinking purposes. Therefore, I urge upon the Government and the hon. Minister to prevail upon the State Government of Goa and revoke the abeyance order for going ahead with these two major diversion projects.

It should be done in a time-bound manner. The next summer is approaching. He has assured the House through his statement that he has already had a telephonic talk, and in September we may have good news. But, I urge the hon. Minister that it has to be time bound. By the end of the September, if ‘in-principle’ clearance is allowed and the abeyance order is revoked, Karnataka will be benefited; justice will be done; the drinking water crisis will be mitigated; and the long-pending demands and the ongoing agitation will come to a conclusion.

SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI : Thank you, Sir. The hon. Minister in his statement has rightly quoted that many a times the meetings of the officials of the Governments of Goa and Karnataka have been called. I am not complaining against any Government. Whenever we have met, he was kind enough; he has told that we are persuading with the Government of Karnataka. Most of the points have already been covered by my senior colleague Shri Ananth Kumar. I do not want to repeat them. But this is the question of humanity. In the surrounding area of Hubli-Dharwar – even Karnataka Government has stated in its Memorandum but the Minister has stated only Hubli-Dharwar – almost 100 villages are suffering from acute drinking water shortage. I am not talking about the irrigation projects. Karnataka is a law-abiding State. Many other States are there. I do not want to quote.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Shri Joshi, you are requested to ask only questions and not to make a speech.

SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI : Sir, I will take only two or three minutes. I am not repeating the points.

We are law-abiding people. Many other States are commencing works without even giving a formal information to the Central Government, to the Central Water Commission. Catchment area of 375 square kilometres is there in Karnataka while Goa covers the catchment area of 1500 square kilometres. Our share has already been quoted; it is 45 TMC. The question is this. In the National Water Policy also – it may not be approved – which has been referred in one of the cases of the Supreme Court, that is in Delhi drinking water case itself where Haryana State was involved, it has been mentioned that drinking water is a topmost priority.

People get water once in 10 or 15 days. Even a pot of water is sold at 25 paise or 50 paise. This is the situation. The hon. Finance Minister is also present here. He quoted about the water problem in Chennai, and said that some major fund is allocated. We are not asking for any fund. We have water. Karnataka Government is ready to invest. The demand is there for 20 or 30 years. We are asking only for 7.56 TMC of water. As per the National Water Policy, kindly allow us and withdraw the abeyance order.

Secondly, in all the five meetings, including the latest one, all the time the Government of Goa is abstaining itself. One time they talked about the share of water; another time they talked about the environmental problem. When environmental problem was talked, NEERI was appointed. NEERI gave the clearance. Then, they talked about oceanology. When the share of water, yield of water was questioned, CWC was appointed. Then, they talked about the IMD.

Where is it going to end? I am not exaggerating it and you can get the information through your own sources. For the last one year, people are getting drinking water once in 15 days. How long will this attitude go on?

Secondly, the dam has been built and the pipelines are laid. As there is no water in the dam, the investment is going waste. I urge upon the Central Government and the Water Resources Ministry to take up this issue very seriously with the Goa Government and convince them or you withdraw the abeyance order. People are agitating. The National Water Policy and CWC yield assessment are entirely in favour of Karnataka. Kindly withdraw the abeyance order, as per the National Water Policy. That is the only request that I am making to the Government.

SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: Sir, this matter has been brought to our notice for the last so many years. I do not like to go into those details.

The distinguished hon. Member, Shri Ananth Kumar has stated all those things. This matter had been debated between Karantaka and Goa from various angles before CWC gave the ‘in-principle’ clearance. When the Planning Commission appointed a Sub-Group to discuss the yield assessment in 1982, the Goa Government stood by it. While the yield assessment made in 1982 was one type of a measure by the Planning Commission, the latest assessment of CWC in 1999 was far more superior to that. They were arguing in the initial stage that they had a doubt as to which was right and which was wrong. Again we addressed this issue. The Goa Government and CWC together evaluated and assessed the whole matter and planned accordingly. Unfortunately, their co-operation, which we sought, in the participation exercise of CWC was not there. Naturally, CWC, on its own, again tried to evaluate the whole assessment issue and provided the raw data to them. They even questioned the raw data and said, “This is not correct. We have to process and clarify.” Finally, they banked on the data of the Panjim side. We also provided that very recently and now they conveyed that they are examining it.

The matter, who is right and who is wrong is not important. In a matter of water sharing, be it for drinking purpose or for irrigation, no State accepts that their State is a surplus State, and every State agrees to the remark that their State is a deficit State.

The Parliament provided us the strength to deal this issue under the Inter State Water Tribunal mechanism. I agree that the issue of drinking water, where people are crying for years together, cannot be delayed for so long by going through the process of Tribunal. According to the law of the land, which is accepted by the Parliament, Tribunal is the only mechanism to resolve such issues. But we always feel and believe that through the negotiated arrangement between the States on technical judgment, things can proceed better and we can understand this.

I have studied this issue in depth. I found that the observation of the Planning Commission’s Sub-Group in 1982 had undergone sea change because there is a substantial change in the average rain water deposit in the catchment area for the last 15 years. Therefore, according to me, the plea that the Goa Government took in the initial stage regarding the 1982 assessment, questioning the 1999 assessment does not stand on merit, according to me.

The second point is that in those negotiations, I do not like to bring the name of NDA or UPA. Unfortunately, Shri Ananth Kumar took the name. It is not correct because on water issue I do not like to bring in politics. Even when the NDA Government gave the ‘in-principle’ clearance, the NDA Chief Minister of Goa vehemently questioned it and opposed it.

So, let us not discuss NDA and UPA. Let us discuss the thirsty people of Hubli, Dharwad and its adjoining villages. They genuinely need drinking water from the reservoir which was built. They need, from two schemes, Kalsa and Bandurinalla, 7.56 TMC of water, and the water, which is substantially large, which is flowing in the larger catchment area in Goa, is going to the sea. Now, from the water which is going to the sea, if a State says, ‘give us something to drink,’ and there to find the logic or illogic of that request is logically, politically and socially very unfortunate after so many years of freedom. But the Union Government is not competent to decide and tell them you do it or you do not do it because water is listed as a State subject. With all our best possible arrangements, we are only a facilitator and a mediator between the States.

I can only tell the hon. Members, through you, Sir, that the hon. Chief Minister of Goa on the earlier occasion did withdraw his first warning on taking up this matter to the Tribunal by his letter to the hon. Prime Minister. At that stage, he wanted a negotiated settlement. The present Chief Minister’s office had agreed to participate in our meeting. Well, there was some turmoil in the Goa Government. At that time, the Chief Secretary had even committed to attend the meeting. On the day of the meeting or before that day, he was shifted to Andaman for the Tsunami relief work. The new office, which took over, said, “Let the Government be settled and then we will join the talk because we cannot officially commit whether we will stick to the Tribunal or go in for the negotiation.” I could appreciate that.

Finally, I had a long talk with the Chief Minister and I tried to convey him that the ecological impacts have been well studied by the most reputed organisation, NEERI. Since they are convinced that there is an ecological threat, what is wrong in it? Finally, the Chief Minister agreed to me and said: “Please do not take it otherwise. We are not defying the facilitation process of your Ministry. We will address the issue together in mid-September at New Delhi and try to find what solution could be arrived at.” I can only add to it that I am not sitting silent. I have taken various efforts on this matter. The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. Dharam Singh, Mr. Mallikarjuna Kharge and the hon. Members, Shri Prahlad Joshi and Shri Ananth Kumar have been, time and again, explaining the issue to me and apprising the matter to me. I am seized of this matter and also the recent protests and agitation. I am doing not a one-to-one meeting with the Chief Minister. What I am doing in that meeting is that I am bringing the oceanography expert, their institution, NIO and I am also bringing NEERI. I am bringing all the possible experts available for the assessment quality report of the CWC in that meeting.

With a full-fledged presentation I am going to draw a definite action plan within September. You will understand and appreciate my difficulty that if the State Governments finally come to a conclusion that, no, we cannot agree with all these things; and we stick to the point of going to the Tribunal, it becomes difficult. But so far, as I understand, I will be able to prevail on both the Chief Ministers to come to a conclusion at least to rescue the people of Hubli and Dharwad cities from the acute drinking water crisis in this year itself, before 31st of December.

I also tell the hon. Member Mr. Ananth Kumar that he was also a Union Minister. If on the protest of a Chief Minister, the ‘in-principle’ clearance is kept in abeyance, unless I bring that Chief Minister to the logical conclusion, suo motu if I withdraw it, the very purpose of the meeting on that occasion in mid-September will be futile. Therefore, I request the hon. Member not to insist to me today to withdraw the abeyance order. It means they will go to the Tribunal. That will not solve the problem. What I said in reply to a time-bound question-answer was that the meeting would be held in September, and before 31st December, I will convey a definite positive message in this regard. I am confident that the Chief Minister of Goa, who is very sensitive on such issues, will understand the logical conclusion of the technical expert’s evaluation. I hope we will find some positive solution in this regard in this year. Thank you.

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : We are requesting you to prevail and persuade him.

SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: I shall not only persuade but I will also try to see that a logical conclusion is arrived at.

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MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Now, we will take up ‘matters of urgent public importance’. First, I will request to Shri Prabhunath Singh.