NWDA asks states, UTs for details on intra-state river links

New Delhi, Jul 14 (UNI) The National Water Development Agency (NWDA), which has responsibility of inter-linking the rivers across the country, has asked states and Union Territories to give details regarding the intra-state river link programmes in their respective states to enable it to carry further studies.

The states, which have been asked, included Bihar, Maharashtra, Orissa, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Punjab and Kerala.

The states and UTs, which had stated that they had no proposal for intra-state river link programmes, were Nagland, Meghalaya, Kerala, Punjab, Delhi, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Daman and Diu.

The Jharkhand government had told the NWDA that it had three link proposals in the state -- Sank to South Koel, South Koel to Subarnarekha and Damodar Barket links. The NWDA agreed to take up the requisite preliminary water balance studies for Damangana-Sbarmati-Chorwad intra-state link proposed by Gujarat, an official release said.

During the NWDA and Maharashtra government meeting it was indicated that NWDA's priority would be Waingana-Manjra valley and six of the 15 links in the Upper Krishna-Bhima system and the agency may take up studies for preparing Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs).

Tamil Nadu had requested the NWDA to study two intra-state links proposals, which were being firmed up by the state.

Bihar informed that it had commenced work on DPR of the links on a priority basis. It wanted the NWDA to prepare DPRs on transfer of Kosi basin to Mahananda basis through Kosi-Mechi link canal, transfer of Sone basin through Sone-Koel link canal and transfer of Ganga water through Barh-Nawada Pump canal scheme to Punpun-Harohar-Kiul basin.

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