Special cell for follow up action on interlinking rivers

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) The Government has set up a special cell to look after the residual routine work of the Task Force (TF) and for taking follow up action on the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) programme under the Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR).

Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha during question hour, Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz said, earlier the MOWR had constituted a committee of environmentalists, social scientists and other experts on interlinking of rivers with a view to proceeding on ILR on December 28, 2004.

The role of the Committee is advisory in nature and it is required to render its advice to the Government from time to time on its terms of reference (ToR). So far, three meetings of the committee were held. During these meetings, experts gave various suggestions on ToR for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) and modalities for preparation of DPR of Ken-Betwa Link and on ToR for its comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The ToR for the preparation of DPR of Ken-Betwa link has been approved by the Government by incorporating the views of the committee of experts and the process for DPR is on.

Prof Soz said they have received the nod from the Ministry of Environment and Forest on April 10 on the ToR for EIA studies of this link, he added.

UNI