Nat water convention to discuss various issues

Puducherry, Oct 31 (UNI) The 12th National Water convention beginning here tomorrow would discuss issues pertaining to water, Puducherry PWD engineer C Anandane said.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said the convention, jointly organsied by the Puducherry administration and the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) would discuss issues such as inter-basin transfer of water, participation of people in preservation and conservation of water, among other things.

He said Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz would inaugurate the convention.

Mr Anmandane said the NWDA has proposed 30 inter-links between various rivers, including linking of Godavari with Cauvery through Krishna, Paalar and Pennar.

NWDA Director Anil Kumar Sharda, speaking on the occasion, said the state governments concerned need to arrive at a concensus to execute any river linking projects.

He said in such a situation a detailed project report should be made and the feasibility study prepared before the execution.

The agency had found the linking of rivers in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh feasible and both the governments had arrived at a concensus, he added.

Mr Sharda said due to the absence of any international dimensions, all the rivers in the peninsular area could be linked first.

Stating that discussions at all levels, including administrative was going on in the issue, he said the deliberations in the convention would be crystalised into recommendations and forwarded to the state governments through the Union Government.

UNI