Uma Bharti calls for removal of misconceptions about inter-linking of rivers
Ninth meeting of the special committee for inter-linking of rivers held
Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti has called for removal of misconceptions about inter-linking of rivers. Chairing the Ninth meeting of the Special Committee for Inter-Linking of Rivers held in New Delhi today the Minister said that keeping in view the recent drought in some parts of the country the need for quick implementation of inter-linking of rivers has become more necessary. She said inter-linking of rivers will not affect flow of sweet water in the rivers. Sushri Bharti said, “We are not stopping the flow of sweet water of the rivers, but will only be transferring the extra water of these rivers which comes during monsoon and floods to those rivers which have less water. This will not affect the flow of water of any river in the country”. The Minister said there were many misconceptions about Mahanadi-Godavari link in Odisha. People used to believe that Mahanadi does not have sufficient water and even than its water is being transferred to Godavari. But when it was explained to them that first extra water will be brought to Mahanadi through Subern rekha-Mahanadi link. This helped in removing their misconceptions about Mahanadi-Godavari link.
Referring to Ken-Betwa link as foundation stone of inter-linking of rivers programme Sushri Bharti expressed the hope that work on it first phase will start within three months. She said that once the work on the project start, people will themselves feel its benefits. The Minister requested the government of Madhya Pradesh to provide necessary forest clearance at the earliest so that work on the first phase of the project could begin soon.
Expressing the need for an early implementation of Daman Ganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada link projects the Minister requested the Governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat to provide there clearances at the earliest so that work could begin soon. Referring to the recent drought in Latur region of Maharashtra, Sushri Bharti said inter-linking of rivers could prove to be an effective tool to deal with such situations. She informed that she will take up the issue of Daman Ganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada link projects during her meeting with the Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on 3rd of next month. The Minister said that Daman Ganga-Pinjal link will enhance the supply of water for Mumbai. She said she will herself visit the tribal areas to remove the misconception about this link among the tribals. The Union Water Resources Minister said that officials of Gujarat and Maharashtra will sit together with the officials of her Ministry to sort out all pending issues about these projects. Sushri Bharti said after this she will meet Chief Ministers of both the states to finalize the approval of these projects. Water Resources Minister of Maharashtra Shri Girish Mahajan said that his government is commited for early implementation of both the projects and expressed the hope that all pending issues with Government of Gujarat will be settled amicably.
Earlier, Director General of National Water Development Agency (NWDA), Dr. Masood Husain gave a presentation about various developments since the last meeting of the special committee. He said the sub committee for system studies which is considering the issue of ‘Surplus Water’ will soon submit its recommendations. Shri Husain said, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee has submitted the draft report on water balance study of the Mahandi-Gadavari link project to NWDA on April 19, 2016. He said after obtaining the views of Government of Odisha, the final report will be submitted to the special committee. Giving the status of intra-state link projects, Shri Husain said, NWDA has so far received 46 proposals of Intra-State links from 9 States viz; Maharasthra, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh. The pre-feasibility report (PFRs) of 35 intra-state links have been completed. He said DPR of two intra-state links for Burhi Gandak-Ganga and Kosi-Mechi received from Bihar are under consideration with Central Water Commission. The representative of Bihar government said that these proposals are pending for approval for more than two years. Sushri Bharti took a serious view of the issue and directed the Chairman of Central Water Commission to expedite the matter.
Interlinking of River (ILR) programme is of national importance and has been taken up by the Government on high Priority. The purpose of this programme is to ensure greater equity in the distribution of water by enhancing the availability of water in drought prone and rainfed area through interlinking of rivers. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has already identified 14 links under Himalayan Rivers component and 16 links under Peninsular Rivers component for inter basin transfer of water based on field surveys and investigation and detailed studies.
Union Cabinet in its meeting held on July 24, 2014 approved the constitution of the Special Committee on ILR. Accordingly, Special Committee on ILR was constituted vide order dated September 23, 2014. The first meeting of the committee was held on October 17, 2014. The committee, after considering the views of all the stakeholders, is proceeding ahead to expedite the objectives of the interlinking of rivers as per terms of reference. Vigorous efforts have been made for generating consensus with development of alternative plans and also setting out road maps for implementation of projects.
