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Political will needed to implement river linking

Special Correspondent

Ministry following a policy of consensus: Dasmunsi

NEW DELHI: "Political will, mutual cooperation and thorough understanding of the issues are required for the Interlinking of Rivers programme to see the light of the day," Union Water Resources Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said here on Thursday.

Addressing members of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry, he said the Ministry followed a policy of "consensus.''

He said the two State Governments concerned with the Ken-Betwa link — Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh — had conveyed their consent, subject to certain conditions, for taking up studies to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The Memorandum of Understanding between the two States had to be signed.

The Government of Madhya Pradesh had also conveyed its consent for preparing the DPR in respect of the Parbati-Kalisingh-Chambal link. Discussions were under way with Rajasthan for obtaining its consent for the DPR.

Management

Asserting that India's prosperity would depend on how best water resources could be managed to meet the ever-expanding demands, he said the country had made "giant strides" in the field of irrigation since Independence. The irrigation area had increased from 22 million hectares to over 100 million hectares.

Mr. Dasmunsi said studies by the National Water Development Agency showed that the Brahmaputra, the Ganga, the Mahanadi, the Godavari and west flowing rivers originating from the Western Ghats were surplus in water resources at certain points and if reservoirs could be built, regional imbalances in the availability of water could be reduced.

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