Vijay Goel for timely implementation of river linking projects

Union Minister Vijay Goel made a strong pitch for timely implementation of river-linking projects and underscored the importance of ensuring consensus of states for ensuring smooth execution of the works under the Centre's ambitious programme.

According to an official statement, the Minister of State for Water Resources, while chairing 11th meeting of the special committee on Inter-Linking of Rivers here, said the linking rivers is an "attempt to boost surplus water availability to needy states.

"...for this we will require a detailed study of country's agricultural land including irrigated land, non-irrigated land, agricultural produce and their market," the statement quoted him as saying.

Goel also expressed hope that the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), which is implementing the programme, will work with "more vigour" and complete delayed inter-linking projects in a time-bound manner.

Among the issues taken up during the meeting included status of various statutory clearances of Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-I, present status of DPR of Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-II, Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada Link projects and restructuring of the NWDA.

The Union Cabinet had approved constitution of the Special Committee on ILR on July 24, 2014 and accordingly, the panel was formed on September 23 that year.

The first meeting of the committee was held on October 17, 2014 and the panel last met on April 29, 2016.