Cooperation of states essential for river inter-linking: Govt

Holding that inter-linking of rivers (ILR) is "critical" for enhancing the country's water and food security, the Centre today said it is committed to execution of the programme through consensus and underscored that cooperation of states is essential to make it a success.
The government also invoked a February 27, 2012 verdict of the Supreme Court, which had held ILR programme to be in "national interest" and directed its "early implementation".
In addition to ILR, National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has taken up proposals of intra-state links in a "vigorous" manner, Water Resources Ministry said in a statement.
"The government has taken up ILR programme under National Perspective Plan on a high priority. ILR programme is critical for enhancing water and food security of country, especially in the water-short, drought-prone and rainfed farming areas.

"The government is committed to implementation of the programme through consensus and cooperation of the state governments concerned. Cooperation of all states is essentially required for the success of ILR programme, which shall bring prosperity to the nation," the ministry said.
On the status of its ILR initiatives, the government said detailed project reports (DPR) of Ken-Betwa Link Project (to benefit Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh), Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada link project (both to take shape in Gujarat and Maharashtra) have been completed.

It said various clearances in respect of phase-I of Ken-Betwa project are in an advanced stage of processing. The project has been recommended by Madhya Pradesh State Wild Life Board in its meeting held on September 9, this year for forwarding to National Board of Wild Life (NBWL) of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Ministry for according clearance.

"The phase-I will irrigate 6.35 lakh hectares of land and provide 49 MCM of drinking water supply at estimated cost of Rs 9393 crore to Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh," the ministry said.
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), which has
been made nodal organisation by the Maharashtra government, had submitted the DPR of Damanganga-Pinjal link project to Central Water Commission (CWC) in January this year for appraisal.
"This project will take care of the drinking water needs of the city of Mumbai," the statement said.
DPR of Par-Tapi-Narmada link has been submitted to the governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra in August 2015. Both the state governments have been requested to forward their comments on the same at the earliest.

"The issue of water sharing between Gujarat and Maharashtra in respect of Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada link projects is being taken up on a priority basis," the ministry said.
Elaborating on the status of intra-state link projects, it said pre-feasibility reports of 35 such programmes have been prepared and submitted to the state governments concerned.
"DPRs of two intra-state link projects namely Burhi Gandak-Noon-Baya-Ganga and Kosi-Mechi have already been prepared and submitted to the Bihar government. These are being examined in CWC. Four other DPRs of intra-state links of various states are under preparation," it said.
A special committee on ILR was formed with Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (Uma Bharti) as its chairperson on September 23, last year to carry out the programme.

The committee has met seven times with the last round of discussions having taking place here yesterday.
A Task Force for inter-linking of rivers was constituted by the ministry on April 13, 2015.
Two meetings of the Task Force were held on April 23, 2015 and November 5, 2015 to examine all relevant issues which will help in bringing about a consensus among states on link projects. The Task Force and four sub-committees will assist the Special Committee for ILR.