Inter-linking rivers remains priority: Uma Bharti

Inter-linking of rivers remains a priority for the central government, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said Friday.

Bharti, addressing a press conference here on completion of her 100 days in the water resources ministry, said the Ken-Betwa link will be the first in the list.

"Ken-Betwa will be the first project of river inter-linking. It is vital for Bundelkhand area which is drought prone," she said.

The minister said this link will provide drinking water to 13 lakh people and irrigate over 6.35 lakh hectares of land.

She added that work on clearances for the Damanganga-Pinjal link, to provide drinking water to Mumbai, has also started.