Question : Priority to Inter-Linking of Rivers

(a) whether the Government proposes to review and re-allocate more funds to water resources thereby giving priority to inter-linking of rivers; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b) Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for water resources development through inter basin transfer of water prepared by this Ministry, NWDA has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports.The Government is pursuing the Inter-Linking of River programme in a consultative manner. Its implementation is dependent upon the consensus and co-operation of the concerned States. On agreement of concerned States, work of preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for individual Link Project is taken up by NWDA.

These DPRs are at various stages of approval. The in-principle approval of the Standing Committee of the National Wild Life Board has been received for the Ken-Betwa link Project. In order to speed up the implementation of Inter-Linking of River Programme and to arrive at a consensus on the link proposals between the States, a ‘Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers’, has been constituted by this Ministry in September, 2014. Ten meetings of the Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) have been held so far, wherein State Irrigation/ Water Resources Ministers along with the Secretaries of various States attended the meetings. The Committee after considering the views of all the stakeholders is taking all necessary steps for expediting the objectives of interlinking of rivers programme as per terms of reference of the Committee.
Fund requirement for individual Inter-Linking projects will be based on estimated cost of the Project as per DPR.
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