Soz stresses on interlinking of rivers, talks on global warming

Puducherry, Nov 1 (UNI) Asserting that the Union Government gave much importance to the interlinking of rivers, Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz today called for more discussions on climate changes and global warming.

Inaugurating the 12th National Water Convention, jointly organised by the Puducherry administration and the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) here, he said though his Ministry was looking into several issues, interlinking of rivers was high on its agenda and the NWDA was doing commendable work in this direction.

Mr Soz, however, regretted that not much importance was being given to serious issues like global warming and climate changes.

India was in the forefront of discussions pertaining to these issues, but the talks here were not satisfactory. All universities in the country and premier institutions should ponder over this to avoid terrible climatic issues.

The Minister said his Ministry was focussing on interlinking of 30 rivers, of which five were found to be feasible. For linking of rivers between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, a detailed project report was being prepared and for the project between Gujarat and Maharashtra, the issue was being dealt with by the respective Chief Ministers.

Interlinking of rivers was not an easy task even between two friendly States, he said, adding that he was trying to persuade the Chief Ministers of Chattisgarh and Orissa over the linking of Narmada and Prathbhi rivers.

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