NWDA HAS ALREADY COMPLETED FEASIBILITY
REPORTS OF SIX LINKS OUT OF 16 PENINSULAR COMPONENT
It is indeed a matter
of considerable satisfaction that the extensive efforts of National
Water Development Agency (NWDA) are now coming to fruition and
that the Government assigns great importance to the proposal on
the ‘Interlinking of Rivers’. This was stated by Shri Arjun Charan
Sethi, Union Minister for Water Resources here today in his address
as the President of NWDA Society’s 19th Annual General
Meeting in the presence of States representatives. The highlights
of the national Perspective Plan and the scope and objectives
of the NWDA are well known, Shri Sethi said. NWDA has completed
Prefeasibility reports of all the 30 links – 16 under the Peninsular
Component and 14 under the Himalayan Component. Feasibility reports
of six links under the Peninsular Component have already been
completed. Feasibility reports of two more links are likely to
be completed by March, 2003. Survey and investigations for preparation
of feasibility reports of 16 links are under progress at various
stages. Previously, it was programmed to complete feasibility
studies of all the identified water transfer link schemes by the
year 2008, but these milestones have been preponed making it necessary
for the feasibility studies to be completed by 2005, Detailed
Project Reports by 2006 and Implementations of the Projects by
2016.
The Supreme Court
of India in a civil petition dated 30.09.2002 on ‘networking of
rivers’ directed Union of India to file an affidavit by 28th
October, 2002. The Union of India in its affidavit filed before
the court stated that the Ministry of Water Resources had prepared
a NNP for interlinking rivers of the country transferring water
from water
urplus basins to
water deficit basins and also a presentation on National Perspective
Plan was made before the Prime Minister on Interlinking of rivers
on 5th October, 2002.
A recent Ministry
of Water Resources resolution has set up a Task Force on Interlinking
of Rivers, which interalia would examine all issues involved in
Inter-linking of Rivers and prepare Action Plans giving an outline
of the time schedule for completion of feasibility studies, Detailed
Project Reports, estimated costs, implementation schedule, concrete
benefits and advantages of the project etc. and also give alternative
options for funding and execution of the Project as also the suggested
methods for cost recovery.
