This is analysis of the decisions of the Advisory Committee in the Union Ministry of Water Resources for consideration of techno-economic viability of Irrigation, Flood Control and Multi Purpose Project Proposals (TAC in short) for North East India[1] from 95th meeting of January 2009 to 122nd meeting held in December 2013. In our last analysis of TAC minutes we have covered the decision taken for NE states from July 2011 to December 2013 which is available at – https://sandrp.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/lack-of-transparency-and-accountability-remains-the-norm-of-functioning-for-mowrs-advisory-committee/. In this analysis, we have covered the same for an extended period. In these five years TAC has accepted project proposals worth of 5515.46 crores. In calculating the total cost of the projects considered we have considered only the projects whose proposals were given clearance by TAC. In these five years, some of the projects also made two appearances with revised costs. In such cases the higher revised cost has been taken into consideration, e.g. Khuga Multipurpose Project and Dolaithabi Barrage Project, both located in Manipur were accepted by the committee in its 100th meeting (held on 9th October 2009) with revised cost of Rs 381.28 crore and 251.52 crore respectively. In the 115th meeting (held on 24th July 2012) of the TAC, these two projects were considered again where the cost for Khuga Project was Rs. 433.91 cr and for Dolaithabi Project it was Rs. 360.05 Cr. The same is the case for the Thoubal Multipurpose Project which appeared in 101st and 115th meeting of the TAC.
Within these five years, TAC has given financial clearance to 26 flood and erosion control projects and majority of these projects are from Assam. The committee gave the clearance to 6 irrigation projects, 3 barrage projects and 3 multipurpose projects.[2] The committee also gave clearance to a strom water drainage improvement project below Greenfield Airport at Pakyong in Sikkim within this period.
In this period, largest no of considered (25) and approved (20) projects were from Assam. Assam also has the maximum cost of projects among all states (Rs. 2631.99 Cr). Highest number of projects were considered (16) and approved (14) in the year 2009, with total cost of Rs 2321 Crores, which too was highest among all the years.
As found in our previous analysis, in the last five year from 2009 to 2013 TAC has not rejected a single project. Five projects had been deferred but were approved in the subsequent meetings within the same period. In the 108th meeting (held on 4th January 2011), the TAC did not discuss two projects on the Brahmaputra river stating “It was observed that the flood control and anti erosion scheme of Brahmaputra Board are implemented through Central Fund, which do not require investment clearance from the Planning Commission. Therefore, these schemes need not be put up to the Advisory Committee. However, the technical aspect of such project may be looked into by Central Water Commission as per past practice.” But both these projects were reconsidered in the 110th meeting of TAC (held on 20th July 2011) and were cleared by the committee.
So this seems like a rubber stamping committee, clearing everything that comes to it. Reading of the minutes of the meetings also reveals that there are hardly any critical questions asked on merits of the questions for the massive delay and cost escalations that most of the projects suffer. Nor is there an discussion about the performance of the projects.
As we noted earlier, this committee functions in most non transparent, non participatory and unaccountable way. Neither the minutes nor the agenda notes of the meetings are in public domain. Following our letters along with TAC analysis in April 2011, addressed to Planning Commission, Union Ministry of Water Resources, Central Water Commission and members of the National Advisory Council, for the first time, TAC minutes were put up on CWC website (see: http://www.cwc.gov.in/main/webpages/TAC%20minutes.html). However, the last uploaded minutes were for the 115th meeting held in July 2012, after which minutes have stopped being uploaded. Secondly, some of the links are not working and all the files are unnecessarily large PDF files since only scanned pages of the minutes are put up, in place of the PDFs of normal word files, which would be of much smaller size. The TAC also has no independent, non government members, all the members are government officials. As we wrote to MoWR and Planning Commission in April 2011 and again in March 2014, there is urgent need for TAC to have such members so that they provide objective perspective about the projects that come up before TAC.
The importance of functioning of this committee cannot be over emphasised. As we wrote in our letter to MoWR and Planning Commission, TAC “considers dozens of such projects with huge economic, social, environmental and other implications for the country in every one of its meetings. All of these projects are supposed to be public purpose projects, and are taken up using public resources. The Planning Commission accords investment clearance to the projects only after the TAC clearance. This Committee’s decisions are perhaps the ones which impact on India as a whole the most – as they relate to land and water – which are the basic life sustaining and livelihood providing resources for the people.”
It is high time that first effective steps are taken to ensure that the functioning of this committee becomes more transparent, participatory and accountable.
State-wise list of projects cleared by TAC
| State | No of Projects Considered | No of projects approved | Total cost of the projects |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 4 | 4 | 106.6 |
| Assam | 25 | 20 | 2631.99 |
| Manipur | 10 | 10 | 2268.99 |
| Meghalaya | 1 | 1 | 5.63 |
| Sikkim | 1 | 1 | 48.55 |
| Tripura | 6 | 6 | 453.7 |
Note: No projects from Mizoram and Nagaland have come to TAC in this 5 years period.
Year-wise List of Projects Cleared by TAC
| Year | No of Projects Considered | No of projects approved | Total cost of the projects |
| 2009 | 16 | 14 | 2321 |
| 2010 | 5 | 5 | 663.67 |
| 2011 | 12 | 9 | 497.33 |
| 2012 | 5 | 5 | 2208.81 |
| 2013 | 9 | 9 | 1439.45 |
Meeting-wise List Projects Cleared by TAC January 2009 to December 2013
| Sl. No | Meeting no | Date of meeting | No of projects considered | No projects approved | No of projects deferred | No of projects rejected | Total cost of the accepted projects, Rs Crore |
| 95th | 20.01.2009 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 196.07 | |
| 96th | 16.02.2009 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 168.14 | |
| 100th | 09.10.2009 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 264.73 | |
| 101st | 30.11.2009 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 77.26 | |
| 102nd | 28.01.2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59.91 | |
| 103rd | 11.03.2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 302.22 | |
| 106th | 16.09.2010 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 301.54 | |
| 108th | 04.01.2011 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 109th | 04.03.2011 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 70.13 | |
| 110th | 20.07.2011 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 211.56 | |
| 111th | 17.08.2011 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 167.09 | |
| 112th | 14.09.2011 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 48.55 | |
| 115th | 24.07.2012 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2208.81 | |
| 117th | 21.03.2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 155.87 | |
| 118th | 30.07.2013 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 467.38 | |
| 119th | 29.08.2013 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 601.67 | |
| 120th | 13.09.2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42.96 | |
| 121st | 08.10.2013 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 146.01 | |
| 122nd | 20.12.2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 25.56 | |
| Total | 47 | 42 | 5 | 0 | 5515.46 |
95th meeting (20.01.2009): Accepted TOTAL – Rs 196.07 crores (revised costs have been taken into consideration)
| SN | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | River/ Basin | Original (revised) Cost-CrRs | Decision |
| 1 | Protection of Sialmari Area | Morigaon/ AS | 2002 | B’putra | 14.29 (25.73) | Accepted |
| 2 | Protection of Bhojaikhati, Doligaon and Ulubari | AS | 2002 | B’putra | 14.52 (27.92) | Accepted |
| 3 | Protection of Majuli Island Ph II-III | AS | New | B’putra | 116.02 | Deferred the proposal with suggestion to prepare the cost at current prices. |
| 4 | Raising & strengthening Dyke from from Sissikalghar to Tekeliphuta including closing of breach by retirement and anti erosion measures | AS | New | B’putra | 142.42 | Accepted |
96th meeting (16.02.2009): Accepted Total – Rs 168.14 crores
| SN | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | River/ Basin | Original (revised) Cost-CrRs | Decision |
| 1 | Flood protection of Majuli Island Ph-II & III | AS | New | B’putra | 115.03 | Accepted |
| 2 | Restoration of Dibang & Lohit rivers to their original courses at Dholla Hattiguli | AS | New | B’putra | 23.32(53.11) | Accepted partially & suggested that proposal of coffer dam, pilot channel, etc. may be put up to the Standing Committee for expert opinion |
100th meeting (09.10.2009): Accepted: TOTAL – Rs 897.53 crores
| SN | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | River/ Basin | L of Dam | Original (revised) Cost-CrRs | Benefit Irri CCA | Annual Irrigation | Decision |
| 1 | Borolia Irrigation Project | AS | 1980 | Brahmaputra | 92 m | 6.775 (135.93) | 9717 | 15,000 Ha | Deferred due to non-submission of State Finance Concurrence |
| 2 | Khuga Multipurpose (Major- Revised) | Manipur | 1980 | Khuga/ Imphal | 230 m | 15 (381.28) | 9575 | 14,755 Ha | Accepted |
| 3 | Dolaithabi Barrage Project (Med Revised) | Manipur | 1992 | Iril/ Manipur | 79 m | 18.86 (251.52) | 5,500 | 7,545 Ha | |
| 4 | Gumti Irrigation Project (Revised) | Tripura | 1979 | Gumti | 96 m | 5.88 (83.01) | 4,486 | 9,800 ha | Accepted |
| 5 | Khowai Irrigation Project (Revised) | Tripura | 1980 | Khowai | 96 m | 7.10 (83.01) | 4,515 | 9,320 Ha | Accepted |
| 6 | Manu Irrigation Project | Tripura | 1981 | Manu | 82 m | 8.18 (98.71) | 4,198 | 7,600 Ha | Accepted |
101st meeting (30.11.2009): Accepted TOTAL – Rs 1059.26 crores
| SN | Project | State | Appr. year | River/ Basin | L of Dam | Original (revised) Cost-CrRs | Benefit Irri CCA/ flood prot. | Annual Irrigation | Decision |
| 1 | Raising & strengthening to Puthimari embankment | Assam | New | B’putra | NA | 30.23 | 15000 Ha | NA | Accepted |
| 2 | Anti Erosion measures to protect left B’putra Dyke | Assam | New | B’putra | NA | 27.97 | 5000 Ha | NA | Accepted |
| 3 | Protection of Gakhirkhitee and its adjoining areas | Assam | New | B’putra | NA | 19.06 | 20,000 Ha | NA | Accepted |
| 4 | Thoubal Multipurpose Project (revised) | Manipur | 1980 | Thoubal/ Imphal | 1074 m | 47.25 (982) | 21,862 ha | 33,449 Ha | Accepted |
102nd meeting (28.01.2010): Accepted TOTAL – Rs 59.91 crores
| SN | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | River/ Basin | Original Cost-CrRs | Benefit-flood protsn | Decision |
| 1 | Emergent measures for protection of Rohmoria in Dibrugarh Dist | Assam | New | Brahmaputra | 59.91 | 18,000 Ha | Accepted |
103rd meeting (11.03.2010): Accepted: TOTAL Cost of approved projects: Rs 302.22 crores
| Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | River/ Basin | L of Dam | Original (revised) Cost-CrRs | CCA (Ha) | Annual Irrigation (Ha) | Decision |
| Champamati Irrigation Project | Chirag/AS | 1980 | Champamati/B’putra | 258.5 m | 15.32 (309.22) | 17,414 | 24,994 | Accepted |
106th meeting (16.09.2010): Accepted TOTAL – Rs 301.54 crores
| SN | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | River/ Basin | Original (revised) Cost-CrRs | Decision |
| 1 | Raising & strengthening of tributary dyke on both banks of Kopili River | Assam | New | Kopilli/ B’putra | 110.72 | Accepted |
| 2 | Assam Integrated Flood River Bank Erosion Risk Management Project | Dibrugarh/ Assam | New | Brahmaputra | 61.33 | Accepted |
| 3 | Assam Integrated Flood River Bank Erosion Risk Management Project | Palasbari/ Assam | New | Brahmaputra | 129.49 | Accepted |
108th meeting (04.01.2011): Accepted TOTAL- Rs 0
| SN | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | River/ Basin | Original (revised) Cost-CrRs | Decision |
| 1 | Restoration of Dibang & Lohit rivers to their original courses at Dholla Hattiguli | AS | New | Brahmaputra | 23.32(53.11) | The technical aspect pf this type of project may be looked in to by CWC as per past Practices. |
| 2 | Protection of Majuli Island from flood & erosion, Ph II-III | AS | New | Brahmaputra | 116.02 | The technical aspect pf this type of project may be looked in to by CWC as per past Practices. |
109th meeting (04.03.2011): Accepted TOTAL – Rs 70.13crores
| SN | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | River/ Basin | Original (revised) Cost-CrRs | Decision |
| 1 | Anti Erosion & Flood Protection work in Dikrong Basin | Arunachal Pradesh | New | Dikrong | 23.68 | Accepted |
| 2 | Anti Erosion & Flood Protection work in Bhareli sub Basin | Arunachal Pradesh | New | Bhareli | 16.81 | Accepted |
| 3 | Anti Erosion & Flood Protection work in Siyom Basin | Arunachal Pradesh | New | Siyom | 29.64 | Accepted |
110th meeting (20.07.2011): Accepted: TOTAL: Rs 211.56 crores
| Sl No | Project | Dist/State | Appr. year | basin | original cost (Rs. Cr) | decision |
| 1 | Anti Erosion & Flood protection in Tawangchu basin | ArP | New | Tawangchu | 36.47 | Accepted |
| 2 | Protection of Majuli from Flood & Erosion Ph II & III | Assam | 2011 | Brahmaputra | 115.03 | Accepted |
| 3 | Restoration of rivers Dibang and Lohit to their original courses at Dholla Hatighuli | Assam | 2011 | Brahmaputra | 54.43 | Accepted |
| 4 | Protection of Balat village from flood and erosion of river Umngi in W Khasi hill district | West Khasi hill/Meghalaya | New | Brahmaputra | 5.63 | Accepted |
111th meeting (17.08.2011): Accepted: TOTAL: Rs 167.09 crores
| Project | Dist/State | Appr. year | basin | original cost | decision |
| Protection of Biswanath Panpur including areas of upstream Silamari and Far downstream Bhumuraguri to Borgaon | Sonitpur/Assam | New | Brahmaputra | Rs 167.09 Cr | Accepted |
112th meeting (14.09.2011): Accepted: TOTAL: Rs 48.55 crores
| Sl No | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | original cost (Rs. Cr) | decision |
| 1 | Improvement of Strom Water Drainage below Greenfield Airport at Pakyong | Sikkim | New | 48.55 | Accepted |
115th meeting (24.07.2012): Accepted: TOTAL: Rs 2208.81 crores
| Sl No | Project | Dist/State | Appr. year | basin | original cost (Rs. Cr) | decision |
| 1 | Thoubal Multipurpose project | Manipur | 1980 | Brahmaputra | 1387.85 | Accepted |
| 2 | Khuga Multipurpose project | Manipur | 1980 | Brahmaputra | 433.91 | Accepted |
| 3 | Dolathabi Barrage Project | Manipur | 1992 | Brahmaputra | 360.05 | Accepted |
| 4 | ERM of Imphal Barrage Project | Manipur | New | Brahmaputra | 16.8 | Accepted |
| 5 | ERM of Sekmai Barrage Project | Manipur | New | Brahmaputra | 10.2 | Accepted |
117th meeting (21.03.2013): Accepted: TOTAL: Rs 155.87 crores
| Sl No | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | basin | Ht / L of Dam/Embnk. | original cost (Rs. Cr) | Benefit flood prot. (Ha) | decision |
| Protection of Sissi-Tekeliphuta dyke from erosion – Lotasur to Tekeliphuta | Assam | New | Brahmaputra | 153 km | 155.87 | 10117 | Accepted |
1188h meeting (30.07.2013): Accepted: TOTAL: Rs 467.38 crores
| Sl No | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | River/ basin | original cost (Rs. Cr) | Benefit flood prot. (Ha) | decision |
| Flood management of Dikrong and river training works on both banks embankment | Lakhimpur/ Assam | New | Dikrong/ Brahmaputra | 105.96 | 9998 | Accepted | |
| Flood management of Ranganadi and river training works on both bank embankments | Lakhimpur/ Assam | New | Ranganadi/ Brahmaputra | 361.42 | 21056 | Accepted |
119th meeting (29.08.2013): Accepted: TOTAL: Rs 601.67 crores
| Sl No | Project | Dist/ State | Appr. year | River/ basin | original cost (Rs. Cr) | annual irrigation | decision |
| Dhansiri Irrigation project | Assam | 1975 | Dhansiri/ B’putra | 567.05 | Accepted | ||
| ERM of Singda multipurpose project | Manipur | New | Brahmaputra | 34.62 | 3000 | Accepted |
120th meeting (29.08.2013): Accepted: TOTAL: Rs 42.96 crores
| Project | Dist/State | River | original cost (Rs. Cr) | decision |
| Anti erosion work along river Haora from Champakpur to Baldakhal | W Tripura | Haora | 42.96 | Accepted |
121st meeting (08.10.2013): Accepted: TOTAL: Rs 146.01 crores
| Sl No | Project | Dist/ State | River | original cost (Rs. Cr) | Benefit flood prot. (Ha) | decision |
| Anti erosion work along river Gumti from Dlak Samatal Para to Durgapur under Amarpur, Udaipur & Sonamura subdivision | S & West Tripura | Gumti | 54.99 | 2209 | Accepted | |
| Anti erosion work along river Khowaii from Netajinagar to Banglahour under Telimura subdivision and from south L. N. Pur to Paharmura bridge under Khowai subvision | West Tripura | Khowaii | 91.02 | 4256 | Accepted |
122nd meeting (20.12.2013): Accepted: TOTAL: Rs 25.56 crores
| Sl No | Project | Dist/State | River | original cost (Rs. Cr) | decision |
| Loktak Lift Irrigation Project | Manipur | 25.56 | Accepted |
Parag Jyoti Saikia and Himanshu Thakkar
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[1]While this article only contains the details of the North East India Projects considered in TAC for the five years, we hope to soon provide details of the projects considered by TAC from all over India.
[2] Sicne Khuga Multipurpose, Thoubal Multipurpose and Dolaithabi barrage project, all from Manipur appears twice in this period, they have calculated only for once here.
[3] Feature image – Khuga Mutipurpose project. Image courtesy – http://manipuronline.com/
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