THE TASK FORCE ON INTER LINKING
OF RIVERS EMPHASISED THE NEED FOR EXPERT OPINION
The Second meeting of the
Task Force on Inter Linking of Rivers (TF-ILR), held under the
Chairmanship of Shri. Suresh Prabhu, here today, emphasised the
need for getting expert opinion, views of specialized institutions
and resource persons to complete the task. .
The Task Force emphasised
need for getting expert opinion of specialised institutions, resources
persons for completion of the task. It had also named certain
Specialised Institutions such as Tata Institute of Social Studies,
(TISS) for rehabilitation, resettlement and social issues; the
National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), for the
Socio economic aspects; IIM, Ahmedabad, for institutional arrangements;
IITs in various parts of the country for engineering, technical,
construction management equipment and R&D the and NIC, Telecom
Commission for IT and communication. Similarly for wildlife and
environmental issues, eminent resource persons and institutions
such as Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), National Environment
Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Indian Institute of Forest
Management (IIFM) and the Wildlife Institute of India.
Recognising that the Task
Force needs to bring consensus amongst the co-basin States for
assisting in the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs)
and implementation of possible linkages, the present mechanism
could be reinforced through formal/informal meetings among and
between Chief Ministers of concerned States. A meeting with Chief
Ministers would be convened to get their consensus to the concept
of Interlinking of Rivers.
On issues pertaining to project
funding, organisational structure, and other allied matters the
Task Force agreed that the financial and management institutions
would be associated for providing input in these areas. Dialogue
would also open with the Ministry of Finance to ascertain the
possible avenues through which funds could be generated for implementation
of these projects.
Chairman also informed the
Task Force regarding the meetings that he has had with several
concerned Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of several States and
Leaders of political parties and with members of Civil Society.
A positive mindset was discernible in all these interchanges.
Task Force would need to address in detail, several sensitive
issues like environment, social and economic etc., that had surfaced,
and to make this national effort, people centric.
A video presentation provided
to the group, a summary of the 3 major components of the 21 interdependent
and 9 independent linkages. This presentation was reinforced by
the observations and deliberations by the technical/engineering
members of the Task Force who have since applied themselves to
the efficacy of the some of the selected linkages. Prioritising
these linkages, the Task Force proceeded with the agenda of providing
guidance on the norms of appraisal of new projects in keeping
with their economic viability, their socio-economic and environmental
impact and mechanism bringing about consensus amongst the States.
It may be recalled that the
first preliminary meeting of the TF-ILR was held on January 6,
2003, (with 2 members). Since then the full fledged office of
the TF-ILR stands functioning at New Delhi with nucleus secretarial
staff in place as seconded by the National Water Development Agency
(NWDA). Recognising that the next step in the processing of these
linkages would be completion of the feasibility report, the Task
Force endorsed the implementation approach that was presented.
The Task Force recognised
that for several Himalayan links, dialogue would need to open
with Nepal & Bhutan. While several of the key linkages already
under deliberations with HMG Nepal & Bhutan, accelerated action
would need to be undertaken to arrive at an understanding with
these countries. For this purpose the Task Force felt that the
dialogue would be guided by Shri Chandrashekar Dasgupta, Former
Ambassador.
It was agreed that the next
meeting of the Task Force would be held at the end of April, 2003.
