INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS – THE ONLY MANTRA FOR FUTURE CHALLENGES: ARJUN SETHI

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Shri Arjun Charan Sethi, Union Minister of Water Resources, has reminded that the entire nation is alive to the issue of per capita availability of water which is reducing day by day due to increase in population. At the same time to bridge the gap between the demand of about 1447 billion cubic meter of water and the potential utilisation of 1122 billion cubic meter the Government of India has drawn up a National Perspective Plan to link up the rivers in the country. The Minister said this while he was addressing the National Conference on "Inter-Linking of Rivers: A Win-Win Situation" organised jointly by the Task Force on Inter-linking of Rivers and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), here today.

In his address Shri Sethi further said that the project has many more advantages. On the one hand it provides benefits in the form of drinking water and irrigation facilities to regions having acute shortage of water. On the other hand it provides relief from vagaries of flood. The Minister hoped that a "Win-Win" situation will be achieved once the project is implemented. The Minister called upon the concerned to carry out thorough studies with the help of reliable data.

Shri Sethi further said that the challenging task should be overcome by jointly working to realise the vision of optimal sustainable development, maintenace of quality and efficient use of country'’ water resource to match the growing demands. For this the active involvement of all stakeholders is required so as to achieve accelerated, equitable economic development of the country, he added.

Shri Suresh Prabhu, Chairman, Task Force on Inter-linking of Rivers and office bearers of CII National Committee also spoke at length on the subject.