Phase II of 'Hydrology Project' to cost around Rs 632 cr

New Delhi, June 20 (UNI) Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz today said the activities identified under 'Hydrology Project' are very important as these will help in developing reliable data for addressing various planning and management issues related to the water sector.

Addressing the meeting of the Members of Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources here, Prof Soz said the first phase of Project, costing Rs 605.28 crore, was taken up during 1995-2003.

He said the implementing bodies of the first Phase were nine states-- Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat-- and six central agencies--Ministry of Water Resources, Central Water Commission, India Meteorological Department, National Institute of Hydrology, Central Ground Water Board and Central Water and Power Research Station.

It helped in creating improved hydrological information system facilities by way of establishing standardised procedures for data collection, collation, processing and exchange and in creating a sound basis for water resources planning and management.

He informed that Phase-II of 'Hydrology Project', taken up in April last year which cost Rs 631.83 crore, was being implemented in 13 states and eight central agencies.

The Project is being assisted by the World Bank. The second phase of the project will take forward the progress made in HP-I and promote sustained effective use of HIS by potential users.

The data will be further strengthened by the development of decision support system for surface water planning, ground water planning, reservoir operations, irrigation management, drought monitoring management and conjunctive use of surface water and ground water.

UNI