The ambitious plans of the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to conserve lakes and rivers in the country have failed to deliver, with more than 80% of the projects not being completed on time and others not being utilised despite being constructed.
These are the findings of a recent audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which reveal a dismal picture on the water conservation and restoration front. CAG has slammed the ministry, saying that the planning of the two centrally sponsored schemes of National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) was flawed, as the inclusion of rivers and lakes in the programmes was not based on comprehensive surveys to assess pollution levels across the country.
?The total amount of pollutants being discharged into all the rivers of India from sources like industries, mining, tanneries, distilleries etc, was also not worked out before initiation of NRCP/NLCP. Selection of rivers/lakes under NRCP/NLCP was not based on pollution level of the river/lake and NRCP/NLCP was not planned by MoEF to address the reduction of entire pollution of selected rivers and lakes,? the report notes. The timing of the report is significant, as the country is set to enter the 12 th Plan period, which commences in 2012 and focuses on water. In fact, the Plan panel has said that the water crisis is even more serious than the energy problem. The sample for the report consisted of 140 river projects, 22 lakes and 116 ground water blocks in 25 states and the report reveals the results for the year ended March 2011.
The audit revealed that the performance of projects undertaken under NRCP was unsatisfactory and that 82% of the projects were completed after the scheduled date of completion. As many as 28 projects costing R251.27 crore were completed but not utilised as yet. This is so because states implementing the projects faced problems in land acquisition, getting requisite permissions, especially forest clearances, technical problems and problems from contractors.
As for lake conservation, the CAG report says: ?NLCP programme has been ineffective in achieving the objective of conservation and restoration of lakes in India.? CAG found that at present only 10% of the waste water generated is treated. Similarly, lakes and ground water are under severe threat from the impact of pollution.