Madhya Pradesh govt submits proposal for Ken-Betwa river linking: Govt

Madhya Pradesh government has submitted a proposal recommending wildlife clearance for Ken-Betwa river linking project, touted as first effort of connecting rivers in the country, to Union Environment Ministry, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said the MP government and State Wildlife Board submitted the proposal seeking National Board of Wildlife's approval for the ambitious project on December 15.

Bharti replied in negative when asked if the Centre is still unable to complete the project and maintained that the phase-I of the initiative was in an "advanced" stage of processing.

"The proposal for wildlife clearance duly recommended by State Wildlife Board and Government of Madhya Pradesh has been submitted by Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife, Government of Madhya Pradesh to Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change on December 12, 2015 for consideration of National Board of Wildlife," Bharti answered.

The Minister added that all efforts are being made to ensure the project, already declared as a National Project, is completed in a "time-bound" manner.