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River Interlinking Task Force chief resigns

The Daily Observer
Sunday, April 04, 2004

NEW DELHI, April 3:–Suresh Prabhu has resigned as the Chairman of the Task force on India's controversial Interlinking of Rivers project, that seeks to divert the waters from all the common international rivers of South Asia for India's benefit, reports BSS.

Suresh Prabhu cited contesting parliamentary polls as the reason for his resignation. He wanted to avoid being disqualified on the ground of "holding an office of profit" as the Task Force Chairman.

He sent his resignation papers on March 31 and got it accepted by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Hindu daily reported.

He will contest Lok Sabha, lower house of Parliament, from Rajapur in Maharashtra, which goes to polls on April 26, on the ticket of Shiv Sena, a coalitrion partner of BJP led NDA. A chartered accountant by profession he was an MP from the same constituency in the last Lok Sabha. He is expected to file his nomination papers on April 5.

Suresh Prabhu had to resign as India's central minister for Power in the Vajpayee cabinet as the Shiv Sena chief Bal Tackeray decided to recall him over some alleged difference between the two.

Liked by Vajpayee for his efficiency and dynamism Suresh Prabhu was later appointed the River Interlinking Task Force Chairman in 2000 with the rank of a cabinet minister.

His resigantion came at a time when the Task Force was busy finalising its Second Action Plan indicating the cost and how to raise funds for the massive programme estimated at 5.6 lakh crore Indian rupees.

The Task Force Vice Chairman and a former Co-Chairman of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers commission C C Patel will function as the acting chairman until the appointment of a new chief of the body.

Source: The Daily Observer

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