Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti has called for fast track measures to achieve the goal of inter-linking of rivers (ILR) in the country. Addressing the Parliamentary consultative meeting of her Ministry here today the Minister said that as per the National Perspective Plan of ILR, it would give additional benefits of 35 million hect. of irrigation (25 million hect. of irrigation from surface waters and 10 million hect. by increased use of ground waters) raising the ultimate irrigation potential from 140 million hect. to 175 million hect. and generation of 34000 MW of power, apart from the benefits of flood control, navigation, water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc. She said, “ILR is a project of national importance and its purpose is to provide equitable distribution of water in the country which will specially benefit flood and drought prone areas. I seek co-operation of all the States in this national task.”
Bharti informed members that National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links, 16 under Peninsular Component and 14 under Himalayan Component for preparation of Feasibility Reports. Out of this, feasibility reports of 14 links of peninsular component and two links (Indian portion) of Himalayan component have been prepared. Surveys and investigation in respect of seven other links is also complete and their draft feasibility reports have been compiled. Bharti informed the meeting that DPR of Daman Ganga-Pinjal link has been prepared and it has been forwarded to the State Governments of Maharashtra and Gujrat for further necessary action in April this year. The DPR of Par-Tapi-Narmada link is under preparation and is likely to be complete by March next year. The Minister said that NWDA has received 46 proposals from States for intra-state links. Out of this, pre feasibility reports of 33 links have been prepared and sent to respective States. She said that on the request of Bihar Government, NWDA prepared DPRs for Burhi Gandak-Noon-Bya-Ganga and Kosi-Mechi river link in December 2013 and March 2013 respectively.
These reports have been forwarded to the Bihar Government for the further necessary action. One DPR each is also under preparation for the States of Maharashtra, Tamilnadu and Jharkhand. Members of Parliament who attended the meeting were unanimous in their support to the concept of inter-linking of rivers. They said that Government should take this programme in the mission mode and it should be completed in time bound manner. One member was of the view that due to apprehensions expressed in some sectors about this programme, a sense of seriousness is missing. Another member said that while taking up this programme we should not ignore ecological, social and environmental cost of the project. One member was of the view that centre should seriously consider nationalization of rivers. Some other suggestions like Krishna-Godavari link, Ganga-Gomti link, Sharda-Yamuna link, Pindari-Kosi link, construction of rubber dams during ILR, linking of Falgu river in Bihar were also made by the members. Thanking the Members for their valuable suggestions the Minister urged them to raise issues and questions related to ILR in both houses of Parliament so that the attention of nation could be drawn to this important issue.
The following members attended the meeting:
Shri AT Nana Patil, Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Shri Ajay Tamta, Smt Anju Bala, Shri Bahadur Singh Koli, Shri Dharambir Bhaleram, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Shri Hemant Tukaram Godse, Dr Krishn Pratap Singh, Shri Kristappa Nimmala, Smt Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Shri Sunil Kumar Mondal, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey (All from Lok Sabha) and Shri Ram Narain Dudi from Rajya Sabha. Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Prof. Sanwar Lal Jat, Secretary Water Resources Shri AK Bishnoi and Senior officials of the Ministry were also present in the meeting