Out of these nine approved projects, three are major irrigation projects, four are medium irrigation projects and two are major flood control projects. The seven irrigation projects approved by the committee is estimated to benefit an area of 100,382 hectares at an estimated cost of Rs 602.09 crore. As per the interim order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, the scheduled flow into the Mettur reservoir for August, 1999 was required to be 54.72 TMC. Against this, the observed flow at Biligundulu site in Karnataka, about 60 km upstream of Mettur reservoir was higher at 56.191 TMC. The Mettur reservoir had a storage of 40.362 TMC on August 31 as against its total live storage of 93.43 TMC.

The standing committee of Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission decided to carry out jointlythe bank line and hydrographic survey of Barak, Sumra and Kushiyara rivers to determine the bank erosion and loss of depth due to silting in these rivers. The cross sectional surveys on Surma and Kushiyara rivers is also to be conducted at one km intervals. The survey will be completed jointly within a year.

The committee also decided that as an emergency measure dredging of Surma river in the active channel will be undertaken by the Water Development Board of Bangladesh in order to increase the carrying capacity of Surma river.

The recent meeting of the joint group of experts of India and Nepal on Pancheswar Multipurpose Project approved the recommendations of the second technical level meeting for setting up of joint project office at Kathmandu alongwith field offices in India with minor incorporations. The allowances proposed to be paid to the Indian and Nepalese personnel were also finalised. The action plan for setting up of joint project office and field offices were drawn up.

The Central GroundWater Board (CGWB) drilled an exploratory borewell in Ranau village in Jaisalmer district in Rajasthan up to a depth of 125.60 metre. It is a promising site and is believed to be the remnants of the lost Saraswati river. CGWB has been working for reconstruction of palaeo-drainage in Thar desert of Rajasthan.