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Interview
Suresh Prabhu, chairman, task force for
inter-linking rivers
All states will benefit
Suresh Prabhu has been appointed the chairman of the Task
Force to look into the interlinking of rivers - by far the most challenging
project in the realm of public works by the Indian Government in its five
odd decades of existence. Though grandiose in idea, it is not one that
enjoys unstinted support. A chat with the Chairman to know more about
various aspects of the project.
The states already have considerable hesitation in
sharing water. Do you think they are going to agree to share water on such a
large scale?
This is not a problem of disputes. Never before have the states been spoken
to about interlinking of rivers. I am speaking to all the states bilaterally
and of course no one has any problem as they are all going to benefit out of
it. We are confident of finding solutions to the issue.
But states like Orissa and Andhra Pradesh are on record
saying they do not have surplus water. How are you going to persuade states
like these?
I am speaking all the chief ministers and states. I am sure they will all be
able to arrive at a satisfactory position over sharing of river waters.
What is the progress in the project by now?
As you know, this is a long term project. It started way back in 1982, when
the National Water Development Agency, or NWDA was set up. While it
initially started looking into the feasibility of linking up the peninsular
rivers, in 1990 it was also asked to look into the Himalayan Rivers
Development Component. NWDA has been working for over two decades to study
the optimum utilisation of water resources by linking up various rivers.
NWDA has been carrying out detailed studies of the quantum
of water in various rivers in our country and working where the inter basin
transfer of water would be beneficial. It has also been preparing
feasibility reports about the interlinking in each individual case under
consideration.
Why are these NWDA project reports not available for
the public?
That is not correct. The reports are available. However not all the studies
are complete, most are still underway. Also the reports are highly technical
and will not be of interest to the public at large.
Hindustan Times
Saturday, August 9, 2003
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