To double the farmers’ income by 2022, NABARD has sanctioned loan worth Rs 19,702 crore to National Water Development Agency (NWDA) for 50 irrigation projects in 11 states. Along with the utilisation of irrigation potential, the initiative would also help in command area development works. Also, under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Program (AIBP), the water ministry has released the first installment of Rs 1500 crore to the states as central assistance for 99 prioritised irrigation projects.
Extending its October 4, 2016 order, the Supreme Court has directed the Karnataka government to continue the release of 2000 cusecs Cauvery water a day to Tamil Nadu till further orders are given. The court has also warned the two governments against any act of violence over the Cauvery water dispute. Along with this, the SC-appointed panel has recommended in its report that the two states must do away with outdated and unscientific water application techniques for resolving their dispute over Cauvery water.
The Brijesh Kumar Tribunal will not relook into the allocation of Krishna water among the four riparian states--Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. However, the tribunal will be looking at the water distribution between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The judgement is a major setback for these two states that had filed a petition seeking redistribution of Krishna water among all the four riparian States.
The National Green Tribunal has reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh government for wasting crores of rupees on Ganga rejuvenation and has restricted it from spending on any major project except maintenance work on the stretch from Haridwar to Kanpur. The order has come following the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and state authorities, including UP Jal Nigam, failing to state the total number of industrial units around the river and the quantity of industrial waste discharged by these industries into the Ganga.
The Bihar government has sought funds worth Rs 4,111 crore as compensation to the damages caused by the recent floods in the state. With 254 deaths, nearly 88 lakh people in 31 districts across the state have been affected by the floods. Also, 3.65 lakh hectares of land was submerged, causing extensive damage to crops. The central team will be visiting the state in November to assess the extent of damage caused.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from October 17-22, 2016. Also read news this week.
Lead image source: Nvvchar via Wikipedia.