THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Water Resources Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said here on Thursday that the Government would not agree to interlinking of Pampa and Achancoil rivers to Vypar in Tamil Nadu under any circumstances.

"Interlinking may be a good idea at the national level. But the proposal here is not for interlinking, but for diversion of waters from Kerala's rivers. There was no question of the State allowing that."

The Minister said Kerala had already lost water from five rivers to Tamil Nadu.

The Centre had no legal powers to ask the State that it should allow further diversion of its waters.

Mr. Radhakrishnan said the Government had, in principle, approved a proposal for the formation of a river development authority.

He said his department was of the view that it should have a say in the use of the River Management Fund.

The use of the Fund should not be limited to construction works. Conservation of water resources should be the focus.

He said the Government would launch a popular water conservation movement to ensure drinking water to 50 lakh people.

Water conservation and vigil were among the objectives of the programme.

The Minister said a six-month-long water literacy programme and action plan had been drawn up. The State-level inauguration of the programme would take place in Thiruvananthapuram on December 8.

Campaign march

A campaign march would be taken out from the Charachirakulam, near Plammoodu, to Padmatheertham at East Fort.

The Chief Minister, Speaker Therambil Ramakrishnan, the Leader of the Opposition V. S. Achuthanandan, Ministers and cultural leaders would participate.

He said mass conventions would be held subsequently on the banks of the Pampa (Pathanamthitta), Bharatapuzha (Thirunavaya), Tejaswini (Kasaragod). Large-scale testing of well water would also be undertaken, he said.

Committees formed

He said that the committees had been formed at various levels to carry out the programme. `Kudumbasangamams' were proposed to be organised at village levels.

Various competitions would be organised at school and college levels on subjects related to water literacy.

The programmes would also include a pledge-taking on water conservation and recitation of group songs.

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