(a) the current status of inter-linking of GodavariCauvery river project to link Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery and Pennar rivers; and
(b) the steps taken or being taken towards restructuring of several authorities such as the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), the National Inter-linking of Rivers Authority (NIRA) and Task Force for Inter-linking of rivers, enabling to expedite the inter-linking of rivers both in Peninsular and Himalayan regions?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) Draft Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Godavari-Cauvery link project consisting of three links viz; Godavari (Inchampalli/Janampet) – Krishna (Nagarjunasagar), Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) – Pennar (Somasila), Pennar (Somasila)-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link projects has been completed by National Water Development Agency (NWDA) and circulated to party States in March 2019. Comments of some of the States have been received and the rest are awaited.
(b) Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (now Jal Shakti) vide O.M. dated 13.04.2015 constituted a Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers (ILR). Twelve meetings of the Task Force have been held so far and the last meeting was held on 16.07.2020.
At present there is no proposal under consideration for restructuring of NWDA and the Task Force for ILR. Any authority called National Inter-linking of Rivers Authority (NIRA) has not been constituted.
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