New Delhi [India], July 26 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann on Tuesday met Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to discuss the issue of contaminated waters in the state.

New Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday paid a courtesy call to Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi.

New Delhi Dec 19 PTI The governments decision to build the Lakhwar and Renukaji dams will not just help address Delhi-NCRs water supply needs but also lead to rebirth of the River Yamuna one of the most polluted rivers in the country Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat saidThe government has extended the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana PMKSY under which 90 per cent grant has been given to three national projects including Renukaji in Himachal Pradesh and Lakhwar in UttarakhandIn an interview with PTI the Jal Shakti minister said the construction of the dams would be critical for the national capitals water supply needs and also lead to rebirth of the riverLike in the case of Ganga it has been notified that all dam holding stakeholders have to discharge a particular quantum of water in non-monsoon months Similarly we will make it mandatory that some amount of water has to flow in Yamuna too and when water will flow and if effluent treatment plants are working then fresh and treated water both will improve Yamuna water quality he saidThe Lakhwar Multipurpose Project envisages construction of a 204 metre high concrete dam across the River Yamuna in Uttarakhand and aims to provide irrigation benefit to 33780 hectares and 7883 million cubic metres of drinking and industrial water supply while the Renukaji Dam Project involves construction of a 148 metre high rockfill dam across River Giri in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh which will provide water to Delhi-NCROn the issue of pollution in the River Yamuna Shekhawat said just two per cent or 22 km of Yamuna falls in Delhi but 98 per cent of pollution in Yamuna comes from Delhi so the reason for high pollution in the national capital is untreated or semi treated industrial effluents or sewage that is being discharged into the river in this 22 km stretchThe over 1300-km-long Yamuna is among the most polluted rivers in the countryShekhawat said the Delhi government keeps blaming Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments for the pollution of Yamuna while in reality Delhis effluent treatment plants are not up to the mark and sewage treatment plants also need to be upgraded by the city governmentWater being a state subject it is the states responsibility So by working on rejuvenation of Yamuna we are actually fulfilling their responsibility For any project the Centre can give technical or financial assistance Ultimately conceiving a project augmenting it implementing it and operating and maintaining it is the responsibility of the state The Delhi government has absolutely failed in that Shekhawat saidHe said even the projects conceived in 2012 have not been completed yet by the Delhi governmentTo conceive and implement any project takes two-three years and for them Delhi government the tendering process itself took three years They city government said they will establish a decentralised sewage treatment plant in Chattarpur but in five years they have not even secured land for it They are just making promises he saidOn ground water rejuvenation Shekhawat said for the last few years awareness has increased among people on the subjectNoting that the geographical and underwater conditions of each state is different from another the minister said if ground water activities are based on them then better results can be seenWe have started aquifer mapping and 80 per cent of it has been done and taking it to micro level we will be using Australian technology Till now traditional technology was being used We have identified vulnerable regions facing maximum critical issues and are aiming to finish it in one year span and simultaneously in Jal Shakti Abhiyan the groundwater related activities and investment of Rs 56000 crore has been made he saidUnder the Atal Bhujal Yojana investment is being made in select districts of seven states with lowest level of ground water availability he added PTI UZM DV DV

Bengaluru Aug 24 PTI Amid row over water sharing with neighbouring States including a proposed dam on Cauvery water at Mekedatu Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said he is likely to meet the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi on August 26 Bommai said he will also hold a meeting with the States legal panel headed by the Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi and other senior lawyers to chalk out strategies to tackle the water sharing disputes with neighbouring states Besides Shekhawat Bommai told reporters here he has sought appointment from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar He added that most probably he would go to Delhi on August 25 evening and meet the Ministers the next day On his meeting with advocates the CM said The Advocate General and senior lawyers who represent Karnataka will be present in the meeting I am trying to get information about the way to proceed further in view of the existing water disputes Asked whether he would also discuss with the BJP central leadership filling the remaining four ministerial slots Bommai said he would do so with the party president J P Nadda if he gets an opportunity to meet him and will take steps after seeking his opinion Regarding the JDS planning to launch a march demanding justice for the State in the water disputes Bommai said history is witness that all the political parties fought and worked together when it comes to water and land related disputes faced by the State Noting that the JDS has got freedom to go ahead with its programme Bommai assured people not to panic as the government in the past had made every effort to claim its rights with regard to the water and land disputes and will continue to do so in future Karnataka is locked in a dispute with neighbouring Maharashtra over sharing the Krishna river water and Mahadayi river to tackle with water crisis during summer in North Karnataka region The state also had a discussion with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtras Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil recently Karnataka is also pushing for the ambitious balancing reservoir at Mekedatu at Kanakapura in Ramanagara district of Karnataka which Tamil Nadu is opposing saying that it will hamper the interests of the State especially the farmers The State wanted the Mekedatu project to utilise the balance water to meet the drinking water requirement for Bengaluru and neighbouring regions PTI GMS RS ROH ROH