Centre expecting project reports from states over linking rivers

New Delhi, Mar 4 : Union Government on Thursday said that five river links under the peninsular component of National Perspective Plan (NPP) have been identified as priority links for building consensus among concerned states for taking up their Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha Union Minister of State for Water Resources Vincent H. Pala said the DPR of one priority link namely, Ken - Betwa has been completed in 2008 and the same was sent to the Governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for comments.

"The Government of Madhya Pradesh vide letter dated 19.8.2009 sent an alternative proposal for consideration. The comments of the Government of Uttar Pradesh have also been received vide their letter 23.10.2009," Pala said.

He informed the House that Water Resource Secretary convened a meeting with the officials of the Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Government in this regard.

As per the decision taken in the meeting, National Water Development Agency has taken up the work of preparation of DPR for Phase -1 of Ken-Betwa link project consisting of Daudhan Dam, link canal, power houses along with their components, which is planned to be completed by April, 2010,Pala said.

Further, NWDA has taken up the DPRs of another two priority links namely, Par - Tapi - Narmada and Damanganga - Pinjal after concurrence of the concerned states which are planned to be completed by December, 2011. The concerned states have not given concurrence to take up DPR of another priority link namely, Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal.

As per guideline for implementation of National Projects, river linking projects are eligible for 90 percent Central Assistance. However, Pala informed the members that the above link projects have not reached the stage of implementation.

" The implementation of the link proposals under NPP depends upon consensus and cooperation of concerned states. Further, the projects including interlinking projects are taken up for implementation after the clearances of the central appraising agencies which include Environmental clearance by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF), Techno-economic clearance by Technical Advisory Committee of the Water Resources Ministry, clearance by Tribal Affairs Ministry and investment clearance by the Planning Commission," he added

Fifth Priority link namely, Godavari (Polavaram)- Krishna (Vijayawada) is part of the Polavaram project of the Andhra Pradesh.

Planning Commission has given investment clearance to the Polavaram Project and the Government of Andhra Pradesh has taken up the above project including link component as per their proposals.

Polavaram project is getting central assistance under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) as per it's guidelines. However, the proposal for central assistance to this project under AIBP during current year has not been received from the State Government.