Inter-linking of rivers to bring socio-economic changes: Gadkari

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation,  Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has called upon state govenments to cooperate with each other and with the centre to expedite the projects for inter-linking of rivers (ILRs). He was addressing the fourteenth meeting of the Special Committee for Inter-linking of Rivers in New Delhi on January 17, 2018.

Gadkari stressed on the need to design better technical models that aimed at bringing down construction cost while maintaining  quality so that projects do not languish for want of funds. He also called upon state governments to explore new financing models including low-interest loans from foreign agencies, according to a PIB release.

Gadkari  said that inter-linking of rivers will bring a big social economic change in the country and usher in prosperity in many regions that are poorly developed today. ” If we are able to save the enormous amounts of river water that gets lost to the seas as run-off and are able to divert this to water deficit regions, we can solve the problem of water scarcity that exists in several states,” he said.

The Minister, however, added that while implementing the river interlinking projects the rehabilitation of displaced persons must be fully ensured. He said he is pained to see a large number of displaced persons (DPs) still awaiting rehabilitation at various project sites completed long back.

In order to resolve issues related to various projects, Gadkari said that clusters of states will be made and MoS  Arjun Ram Meghwal will soon visit states and hold meetings for on the spot discussion with the state government concerned on the various pending issues. Referring to the funding of various ILR projects, Gadkari said the time has come when we have to look for innovative funding mechanisms for these projects. He urged state governments to come forward with definite funding proposals which can be taken up with foreign funding agencies.

The meeting confirmed the minutes of the 13^th meeting of the Special Committee for Inter-linking of Rivers held on July 27, 2017, in New Delhi.