National Water Development Agency

In news

• National Water Development Agency (NWDA) officials have apprised of the plan to establish a National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA) for implementing interlinking projects.

About NWDA:

• The National Water Development Agency (NWDA), a Registered Society under the Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Water Resources) was set up in the year 1982 to carry out detailed studies, surveys and investigations in respect of Peninsular Component of National Perspective for Water Resources Development.
• The Government subsequently modified the functions of NWDA to include the Himalayan Component of National Perspective for Water Resources Development.
• In 2006, it was decided that NWDA will explore the feasibility of linking sub-basins of rivers in States like Bihar.
• It was decided that NWDA will also take up the work for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Ken-Betwa link, which is one of the priority links under Peninsular Component of National Perspective Plan.
• The functions of NWDA were further modified to undertake the work of preparation of DPRs of intra-State links.
• The functions of NWDA were further modified to undertake implementation of ILR projects and completion of water resources projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) and to act as a repository of borrowed fund or loan from Banks / other institutions for the execution of projects.

Present Functions of NWDA:

• To carry out detailed survey and investigations of possible reservoir sites and inter-connecting links in order to establish feasibility of the proposal of Peninsular Rivers Development and Himalayan Rivers Development Components forming part of the National Perspective for Water Resources Development.
• To carry out detailed studies about the quantum of water in various Peninsular River systems and Himalayan River systems which can be transferred to other basins/States after meeting the reasonable needs of the basin/States in the foreseeable future.
• To prepare feasibility report of the various components of the scheme relating to Peninsular Rivers development and Himalayan Rivers development.
• To prepare detailed project report of river link proposals under National Perspective Plan for Water Resources Development after concurrence of the concerned States.
• To prepare pre-feasibility / feasibility / detailed project reports of the intra-state links as may be proposed by the States. The concurrence of the concerned co-basin States for such proposals may be obtained before taking up their FRs / DPRs.
• To undertake/construct/repair/renovate/rehabilitate/implement the projects either on its own or through an appointed Agency/Organization/PSU or Company and the projects forming part of Interlinking of Rivers, for completion of projects falling under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).
• NWDA to act as a repository of borrowed funds or money received on deposit or loan given on interest or otherwise and to secure the repayment of any such borrowed funds/money/deposits/loan etc.
• To do all such other things the Society may consider necessary, incidental, supplementary or conducive to the attainment of above objectives.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. Regarding National Water Development Authority, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a registered society under the Ministry of Agriculture

2. It undertakes the work of preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of intra-State river links

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims question