New Delhi. India Meteorological Department (IMD) prepares rainfall distribution state-wise, meteorological subdivision wise and for country as a whole in the time scale of weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual. Distribution of rainfall during the last three years shows year to year variability with 6-Nos., 4-Nos. and 19 -Nos. of states falling under rainfall deficient category during monsoon seasons of 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. Similarly on annual time scale 4-Nos., 6-Nos and 19-Nos of states were deficient in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively.

This was stated by Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State (I/C) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences in the Lok Sabha today. He said that the Ministry of Water Resources and Central Water Commission(CWC) in 1980 had started exploring the possibilities of channelizing the excess water through a National Perspective Plan for water resources development in India comprising two components: Himalayan and Peninsular Components. A major feature of this plan was transfer of water from water surplus basins to water deficit basins/ regions in India by Inter Basin Water Transfer Projects.

The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) was set up in 1982 as an autonomous society under Ministry of Water Resources to give concrete shape to these proposals by carrying out the detailed studies, surveys and investigation work and to prepare feasibility reports of the links under the National Perspective Plan. The NWDA, after carrying out detailed studies, identified 30 links: 14 under Himalayan Component; and 16 under Peninsular Component for preparation of Feasibility Reports. NWDA has completed the pre-feasibility reports for all the links and Feasibility study of 16 links. The Feasibility Reports for remaining links are at various stage of completion. The NWDA had taken up the discussions with the concerned State Governments for building the consensus for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of individual link proposals. After consensus is reached amongst the concerned States for a particular link, the work for preparation of DPR of that link shall be taken up by NWDA.