Centre forms task force on interlinking of rivers

New Delhi, April 14

The Centre today constituted a task force comprising experts and senior officials to forge a consensus among states for the speedy implementation of the interlinking of rivers in the country.

The task force would be chaired by BN Navalawala, adviser to the Gujarat Chief Minister on water resources development and former union secretary (water resources). Other members of the group are Sriram Vedire, adviser in the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation; Prodipto Ghosh, former secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests; AD Mohile, former chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC); M Gopalakrishnan, former member, Central Water Commission and Virag Gupta, advocate.

The task force will discuss all issues for expediting the work on interlinking of rivers in the country. Apart from examining the existing links that are laid out as per the National Perspective Plan under both Himalayan and Peninsular components, it will also consider alternative plans in place of infeasible links in the present plan.

The group will facilitate interlinking of intra-state and intra-basin rivers along with that of inter-state and inter-basin links. It will recommend the time schedules for the completion of feasibility studies and detailed project reports of all links, implementation schedule of all links and also suggest on various means of funding mechanisms for the interlinking of rivers.

The group will provide guidance on norms of appraisal of individual projects in respect of economic viability, socio-economic, environmental impacts and preparation of resettlement plans. — TNS