New Delhi, August 25
In a historic step towards linking major rivers in the country, the Centre and the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh today signed a memorandum of understanding for connecting the Ken and Betwa rivers to boost irrigation and water supply in the two states.
The tripartite agreement, paving the way for the preparation of detailed project report (DPR) by the Centre, was signed today morning by MP Chief Minister Babulal Gaur, UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, and Water Resources Development Minister P.R. Dashmunsi in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Describing the signing of the first such agreement as a “historic step” for the benefit of the people in the two states, Mr Yadav told reporters that it would be a role model for other states to resolve their river disputes.
Mr Gaur said the MoU fulfilled the dream of former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee of interlinking the country's rivers. The Chief Minister said he would hold discussions with Rajasthan for making Parbati-Kali Sindh and Chambal link on the lines of MoU signed on Ken-Betwa.
Terming the agreement as a historic decision, Mr Dashmunsi said certain reservations of the Uttar Pradesh Government regarding the feasibility report of Ken-Betwa Link Project as prepared by the National Water Development Authority “will definitely be addressed at the DPR stage.”
The project, estimated to cost over Rs 4,000 crore, envisages diversion of surplus waters in Ken river basin to water deficit Betwa basin through construction of Daudhan dam on the Ken and a 231 km long link canal. Once the surplus waters of the Ken basin are transferred to the Betwa, it would enhance irrigation and water supply in Chatarpur, Tikamgarh, Panna, Raisen and Vidisha districts of Madhya Pradesh and Hamirpur, Banda and Jhansi districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The signing of the MoU marks the beginning of the first of the 30 identified river linking schemes.
Intervening during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister said work on the DPR of the Ken-Betwa river linking project would begin soon with the signing of the tripartite agreement.
Hailing the signing of the MoU between the two states, Dr Singh said environmental implications would be studied during the preparation of the DPR. Brushing aside apprehension of any slow down in the task of interlinking the rivers, he said DPRs of several river links were in the pipeline.
Dr Singh, however, said it would be wrong on his part to talk of early results.
