External Assistance

The extension of irrigation to the various regions of the country is a national priority. The Ministry assists the State Governments in tying up external assistance from different funding agencies to bridge the resource gap for harnessing their irrigation potential.

International support for development of country's water resources comes from multilateral agencies like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and European Union and from the countries such as Japan, Germany, etc. The World Bank assistance is upto 70 per cent of the total external assistance in the water resources sector. At present, there are 12 ongoing projects with external assistance from the World Bank, European Union and other funding agencies / countries, in various States.

Central Organisations

Central Water Commission

The Central Water Commission is a premier technical organisation in the country in the field of Water Resources since 1945. The Commission is charged with the general responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering, in consultation with the state governments concerned, schemes for control conservation and utilisation of water resources throughout the country, for purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power Development. It also undertakes the investigation, construction and execution of any such schemes as required.

Central Soil And Materials Research Station

The Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS), New Delhi is a premier National Institute of the country, devoted to research and investigations, primarily in geotechnical engineering, construction materials and concrete technology. In addition to water resources sector involving hydroelectric and irrigation projects, CSMRS has been undertaking the challenging works pertaining to nuclear and super-thermal power projects, and other construction works. The Research Station also functions as consultant in India and for neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius and Afghanistan for projects and for organisations dealing with such works in the following areas of its specialisation: Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Soil Dynamics, Rock Fill Technology, Geotextile, Grout Technology, Drilling Technology; Engineering Geophysics, Rock Engineering; Construction Materials and Concrete Technology; Geotechnical Instrumentation, and Chemical aspects of Water and Engineering Materials.


Subordinate Organisations

Central Water And Power Research Station

The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Khadakwasla, Pune is the center of excellence in hydraulic research at the national level. From it's beginning in 1916 as an institution dealing with the twin problems of irrigation and drainage, the institution has grown to a hydraulic institution of international standing. CWPRS undertakes basic and applied research in the field of hydraulic, geotechnical engineering and the allied subjects of hydrology and water resource analysis; and is in the forefront in the use of complex physical and mathematical modelling techniques in solving diverse water resources issues related to riverine and coastal environment. As the Regional laboratory of ESCAP since 1971, CWPRS has offered its services to a number of projects in the neighbourhood as well as countries in the Middle East and Africa.

The major disciplines/laboratories of CWPRS are: Hydrology and Water Resource Analysis, River Engineering, Reservoir and Appurtenant Structures, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Ship Hydrodynamics, Hydraulic Machinery, Earth Sciences, Mathematical Modelling, Foundations and Structures and Instrumentation and Control Engineering. About 50 divisions, associated with these disciplines are engaged in research.

Central Ground Water Board

The Central Ground Water Board was constituted as the national apex Organisation in 1970. CGWB is headed by the Chairman who is also heads the Central Ground Water AuthorityThe Board is vested with the responsibilities to "Develop and Disseminate technologies for scientific and sustainable development and management of India's ground water resources including survey, exploration and assessment and augmentation".

Board is monitoring a network of 14564 shallow and deep observation wells in the country, 4 times in a year for water level and one time in a year for water quality.The data generated from these investigations provide a scientific base for preparation of ground water development schemes by the state governments. In areas having problem of ground water pollution, seawater ingress, groundwater depletion, etc., special studies are undertaken to assess the magnitude of the problem and suggest remedial measures. Besides advising the States on planning, financing and administration of groundwater development schemes, the Board undertakes research and development schemes, water balance studies, conjunctive use studies and artificial recharge studies. The Board also organizes training of personnel of different disciplines from related central and state government, organizations.

The CGWB, with help of its scientific, research and developmental activities, provide assistance to the State Govt. through recommendations for better ground water development and management practices.

The Board regularly publishes scientific reports and maps on ground water development and management scenario. It has published Hydrogeological Map of India in 2002, Master Plan on Artificial Recharge to Groundwater, Guidelines on Artificial Recharge to Groundwater, etc. The Board has also prepared user-friendly "Ground Water User Maps" of 500 districts of the country.

The Central Ground Water Authority has been constituted in 1997for the purpose of regulation and control, management and development of groundwater in the country which is giving NOC for industries on case to case basis in overexploited / notified areas. Authority also notifies areas for ground water regulation and also for reservation of exploration structures.

Farakka Barrage Project

The Farakka Barrage Project is designed to serve the need of preservation and maintenance of Kolkata Port by improving the regime and navigability of the Bhagirathi-Hooghlty river system.  The river Bhagirathi, the Feeder Canal and Navigation Lock at Farakka form part of the Haldia-Allahabad Inland Waterway.  The principal components of the project are:

• 2,245 metre long barrage across the Ganga with a rail-cum-road bridge   necessary river training works, and a head regulator on the right side.
• 213 metre long barrage across the river Bhagirathi at Jangipur.
• Feeder Canal of 1113 cubic metres per second (40000 cubic feet per second) carrying capacity and 38.38 KM long, taking off from the head regulator on the right of the Farakka Barrage, and
• Navigation works such as locks, lock channels, shelter basins, navigation lights and other infrastructure.

Govt. of India has extended the jurisdiction of the Farakka Barrage upto Rajmahal in the upstream (40 km from the Farakka Barrage) & upto Jalangi in the downstream (80 KM from Farakka Barrage) for taking up the anti erosion and bank protection works only. 

Sardar Sarovar Construction Advisiory Committee

The Sardar Sarovar Construction Advisory Committee (SSCAC) located, at Vadodara, was constituted in 1980 as per the directive of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT), for scrutiny of estimates, technical features, design and to monitor the progress of the construction activity to ensure efficient, economical and timely execution of Unit - I (Dam and Appurtenant works) and Unit - III ( Hydro - Power Complex) of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP). The Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, is the Chairman of the Committee. Officers of the departments like Irrigation, Power, Revenue, Welfare etc. concerned with the construction of the project of the four party States along with their counterparts from the Government of India and the Narmada Control Authority are Members of the Committee.

Bansagar Control Board

The Bansagar Control Board was constituted by the Central Government in consultation with the Governments of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh with a view to ensure efficient, economical ad early execution of the Bansagar Dam on Sone river, including all connected works in Madhya Pradesh but excluding the canal systems. The headquarter of the Board is at Rewa (M.P.). The Union Minister of Water Resources is the Chairman of the Board. The day-to-day activities of the Board are managed by the Executive Committee of the Board under the Chairmanship of Chairman, Central Water Commission. The funds for the project are borne by the beneficiary States of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the ratio of 2:1:1.

The revised estimated cost of the Dam Project is Rs.1054.96 crore (at 1998 price level). The total expenditure upto March, 2005 is Rs.1131.28 crore.

Ganga Flood Control Commission

The Ganga Flood Control Commission with its headquarters at Patna, was established in 1972.  It serves as the Secretariat and executive limb of Ganga Flood Control Board which is headed by Union Minister for Water Resources and has as it members, the Union Minister for Finance, Railways, Surface Transport and Agriculture or their representatives, Union Minister of State for Water Resources, the Chief Ministers of the basin States or their representatives and Member, Planning Commission.  The Commission is headed by a Chairman who is assisted by two full-time Members.