River inter-linking will raise irrigation capacity: Uma Bharti

Inter-linking of rivers will raise the irrigation capacity of the country by 90 percent, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said Thursday.

"There is no shortage of water in our country. Excess rain water in our country flows into seas through rivers. We need to conserve this water by inter-linking the rivers," Bharti said while inaugurating the national conference on issues for optimal use of water resources called "Jal Manthan" here.

The minister said in India irrigation schemes take a lot of time and money to complete. She added that only the farmer can feel the pain of these delayed projects.

Bharti said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the government to ensure that irrigation facility is provided to every field of each farmer without any extra cost.

The three-day conference has been organised by the ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation to hold wide-ranging consultations with the states and other stakeholders.