L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 841
of the examination of the commercial aspects of Indian springwaters, and the trial given thereto, the location of the different springs where trials have been made and the composition and properties of the respective waters ?
(b) Have Government any scheme for the working of any of these sources of spring-water through State agency or through the agency of any private enterprise ? If so, what are the details of such schemes ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b). Waters of certain thermal mineral springs in Bihar were investigated by the Geological Survey of India and after examination of the chemical properties of these waters it was decided that there would be no advantage in Government undertaking during war time the commercial exploitation of these waters.
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*** Damodar River Transport for Coal in Bengal**
- Mr. R. R. Gupta : Is the Honourable the Labour Member aware that in the last century a proposal was considered by the Government of India for providing river transport to the movement of coal from the Bengal coal fields to Calcutta by rendering the river Damodar as an all weather navigable channel ? If not, will Government consider the advisability of re-examining such a proposal in connection with the proposed multi-purpose Damodar River project ? If not, why not ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am not aware of any such proposal but there was a proposal to take out a canal from the Damodar river from Raniganj to Calcutta.
The enquiry now being made is examining the possibility of a multipurpose scheme for the control of the Damodar—this examination will extend to the possibilities of encouraging navigation.
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 19th February 1945, p. 455.