Question : INTERLINKING OF RIVERS IN SOUTH INDIA



(a) whether the Government is contemplating to link the rivers in South India; and

(b) if so, the steps taken by the Union Government to negotiate with the State Governments in this regard ?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (PROF. SAIF-UD-DIN SOZ)

(a) & (b)A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO. 113 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.8.2007 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING INTERLINKING OF RIVERS IN SOUTH INDIA

(a) Under Peninsular Rivers Development Component of National Perspective Plan, National Water Development Agency (NWDA) after carrying out various studies, has identified 16 links for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs). The status of the FRs of these links] is given at Annexure-I. Out of these 16 links, the following 12 link proposals envisage to link the rivers in South India.

1. Mahanadi(Manibhadra) - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram)

2. Godavari(Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada)

3. Godavari(Inchampalli) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar)

4. Godavari(Inchampalli - Krishna(Pulchintala )

5. Krishna(Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila)

6. Krishna(Srisailam) - Pennar

7 Krishna (Almatti) - Pennar

8. Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut)

9. Cauvery (Kattalai) - Vaigai - Gundar

10. Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar

11. Netravati-Hemavati and

12. Bedti-Varda.

(b) All the reports prepared by NWDA are circulated to the concerned State Governments.The State Government officers are invariably invited to all the important meetings e.g. Annual General Meeting of NWDA Society, Governing Body, Technical Advisory Committee etc. A group headed by Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC) has been constituted in June, 2002 to discuss with the States for arriving at consensus regarding sharing of surplus waters and preparation of detailed project report by NWDA. This group has already held nine meetings for consensus building on priority links including one for Godavari (Polavaram)-Krishna (Vijayawada) link