PROJECTS ON INTERLINKING
OF RIVERS TO COST TENTATIVELY RS. 5,60,000 CRORES
The Ministry of Water
Resources, formerly known as the Ministry of Irrigation, formulated
a National Perspective Plan (NNP) for water resources development
in 1980 which envisages inter linkages among Peninsular Rivers
and Himalayan Rivers for transferring water from water surplus
basins to water deficit areas for optimum utilisation of water
resources. The Government of India established the National Water
Development Agency (NWDA) in 1982 as an autonomous society to
carry out water balance and other studies and prepare feasibility
reports. NWDA has identified 30 links under the National Perspective
Plan for preparation of the feasibility reports and has completed
feasibility reports of 6 links under Peninsular Component. A Task
Force has been set up on 13.12.2002 with a view to bringing about
consensus among the States and provide guidance on norms of appraisal
of projects and modalities for project funding etc. so as to achieve
implementation of interlining of rivers by 2016.
As per present tentative
estimates, the cost of implementation of identified inter basin
water transfer link schemes both under Peninsular and Himalayan
Component at 2002 price level is Rs. 5,60,000 crore and as per
present indication the proposed diversion will be around 174 billion
cubic metre.
This information
was given by the Union Minister of State for Water Resources,
Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty in the Rajya Sabha today.
