Cost of Interlinking of Rivers projects estimated at Rs 4.44 cr

New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) The Task force for the Interlinking of rivers has estimated the total cost of the project at Rs 4.44 lakh crore, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

In a reply during Question Hour, Minister of State for Water Resources Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav said,''based on studies, the National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has estimated that the cost of the ILR project would be Rs 4.44 lakh crore.

The NCAER is of the view that the programme would take nearly 35-40 years.'' The Minister said the Task Force submitted Action Plan I and Action Plan II in April, 2003 and April, 2004 respectively and thus completed its assigned functions.

He said on the basis of a report from IIM Ahmedabad, a two tier institutional and organisational set up has been suggested for implementation of the programme on ILR with an apex body of the proposed set up.

''The Task force consulted ICICI for funding options which has proposed that the funding should be partly through public, public private and private inputs,''the Minister said.

Expressing the Government's commitment to implementing the ILR project, the Minister said,''the project has been given due importance by the UPA government. No stone will be left unturned as we want to save the country from droughts and floods.'' UNI