Rajya Sabha MP K. Bhabananda today got to the questions raised in the Rajya Sabha sitting on programmes for conservation of rivers and PMAY-G house construction scheme in Manipur, from Dr. Harsh Vardhan, minister of environment, forest and climate change and Ram Kripal Yadav, minister of state for rural development.
The questions raised by Bhabananda on river projects were: (a) whether National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) has any project or programmes for the rivers in Manipur and if so, the details thereof; b) whether the Nambul River is highly polluted due to sewages from the Imphal City, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether Government contemplates to carry out a sewage project to save the river from pollution; (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof; and (e) the details of funds released to the State Government from the Ministry during the last three years, year-wise with their purposes?
Dr. Harsh Vardhan answered that it is the responsibility of the concerned local bodies/State Governments to set up proper facilities for collection, treatment and disposal of sewage being generated and ensure that untreated sewage does not fall into the rivers or other water bodies, thereby polluting them. This Ministry is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in pollution abatement in identified stretches of various rivers through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for implementation of projects on cost sharing basis between the Certral and State Government. Proposals for pollution abatement of rivers are submitted by the State Governments from time to time, which are examined and considered for financial assistance under NRCP depending on the degree of pollution in the river. State Government’s commitment to bear matching share, conformity of projects formulated as per the Ministry’s guidelines along with availability of funds under the programme.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with respective State Pollution Control Boards is regularly monitoring the surface water quality and has drawn up a list of 302 polluted rivers stretches in the country, based on Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BoD) levels, a key indicator of organic pollution. This list also includes the stretch of river Nambul from Singda Dam to Bishnupur in Manipur, which is polluted due to discharge of untreated sewage from Imphal and other towns, with BOD levels ranging from 4.3-23.7mg/l (milligrams per litre) in this stretch.
A Conceptual Project Report for “Wastewater Treatment & Clean-up in Nambul and Waishel Maril Basins, Manipur amounting 10 Rs. 452.44 Crore was received from the Government of Manipur in May, 2015. The project report was returned back to the State Government in May, 2015 itself as it was not prepared as per the guidelines of NRCP. Thus, no funds have been released by the Ministry to the State Government for pollution abatempent of river Nambul in Manipur under NRCP.
The questions raised by Bhabananda on PMAY-G house construction scheme were:
(a) whether Government would sanction more dwelling units under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) in special consideration of the large scale destruction of houses by present flash floods in the valley districts of Manipur; (b) the assistance provided for a dwelling unit and whether Government would raise the oost of a dwelling unit in view of the local costs in the State and if so, the details thereof; and (c) the details of beneficiaries under the scheme in the State during the last three years, block-wise?
Ram Kapil answered that no such proposal from the State Government of Manipur for sanction of dwelling units has been received in the Ministry of Rural Development. As and when such proposal received, the same will be considered by the Empowered Committees.
The unit assistance under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) is Rs. 1.20 lakh in plain areas and Rs. 1.30 lakh in hilly States, difficult areas including IAP districts. Besides this 90/95 days untilled labour wage under MGNREGS and Rs. 12,000 from Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) or any other dedicated finanaial sources from construction of toilet is also made available over above the unit assistance.
Block-wise details of PMAY-G beneficiaries for the State of Manipur for the last three years, as reported by the State, is available on AwaasSoft (at www.pmayg.nic.in).
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