Gujarat, Maharashtra ink pact on interlinking rivers

With an aim to provide water to arid and water deficit areas, Gujarat and Maharashtra have signed a pact with the Central Government to prepare project reports to inter-link several rivers in their region.

The tripartite MoU was signed by Gujarat and Maharashtra Chief Ministers Narendra Modi and Ashok Chavan respectively, and Union Water Resources Minister P K Bansal in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here on Tuesday.

The agreement has been culmination of the joint efforts of the Central Government and the governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra to initiate the process of preparation of Detailed Project Reports of these two links for providing benefits to the people of the areas at the earliest.

The proposed Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada links are two Inter Basin Water Transfer links concerning Gujarat and Maharashtra.

While the Damanganga-Pinjal link mainly benefits Maharashtra, the Par-Tapi- Narmada link would mainly benefit the regions in Gujarat.

Dr Singh hailed both the State Governments for undertaking the task to address the water problem of the region.

"The signing of this MoU is a shining example of co-operation and mutual understanding between the riparian states in addressing water requirements. I hope that this positive step will be progressively built upon for the greater good of the people of the country," he said.

The agreement would help in irrigating around 17,500 million hectares of agricultural land in Gujarat.

"This agreement would help in irrigating around 17,500 million  hectares of agricultural land in Gujarat...a detailed project report (DPR) and feasibility report will be ready by the year 2011 and only after that we will decide the further strategy," said Modi.