Utilising Narmada for power, water: MP CM

Indore, Aug 20: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has stressed the need to utilise the Narmada river for meeting the state's power and water demands.

''Attempts will be made to link the Kshipra with the Narmada by bringing the latter's water to Malwa region. The electricity requirement cannot be met through thermal power stations alone,'' he said here yesterday while addressing a seminar, organised by the 'Free Press Journal', on 'The Role of the Narmada in Madhya Pradesh's Development'.

Pointing out that industrialisation was imperative for development, Mr Chouhan assured that no farmland would be forcibly acquired. Land would be handed over to industrial units at market rate after discussions between peasants and industrialists.

''There is a need to evaluate the usefulness of existing dams on the Narmada. I urge the Chief Minister not to hand over land on the Narmada banks to multi-national companies,'' said former Union Minister Prahlad Patel.

State Public Works Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma, Sardar Sarovar Project Chairman P K Lahiri and Free Press Group Managing Director J K Karnani also spoke on the occasion.

The Chief Minister released a book entitled 'Destination MP' and presented a cheque of Rs 1.5 lakh on behalf of the government to assist the family of 'Free Press Journal' journalist Vipin Patidar.

UNI