Uma seeks states' cooperation in implementing inter-linking

Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti today sought the co-operation of state governments for implementing the NDA government's ambitious project of Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR) in the country.
Addressing the Parliamentary consultative meeting of her Ministry here, she said that as per the National Perspective Plan of ILR, it would give additional benefits of 35 million hectares of irrigation, besides generating 34000 MW of power.
"ILR is a project of national importance and its purpose is to provide equitable distribution of water in the country, which will specially benefit flood and drought prone areas. I seek co-operation of all the states in this national task," she added.

Bharti said Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Daman Ganga-Pinjal link has been prepared and it has been forwarded to the governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat for further necessary action in April this year.
The DPR of Par-Tapi-Narmada link is under preparation and likely to be completed by March next year, she added.
While one Member of Parliament, who attended the meeting, opined that a sense of seriousness is missing due to apprehensions expressed in some sectors about this programme, another member said "we should not ignore ecological, social and environmental cost of the project while taking up this programme."
Lok Sabha members A T Nana Patil, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Ajay Tamta, Anju Bala, Bahadur Singh Koli, Dharambir Bhaleram, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hemant Tukaram Godse, Dr Krishna Pratap Singh, Kristappa Nimmala, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Sunil Kumar Mondal, Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Ram Narain Dudi from Rajya Sabha took part in the meeting, a press release said.