Help of NWDA sought by states for intra-state river linkage

New Delhi, Jul 29 (UNI) The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) is discussing the firming up of 15 intra-state river link proposals with the Maharashtra Government while agreeing to examine the intra-state link proposals made by the states of Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Gujarat.

Maharashtra had prioritised two of its proposals for intra-state links for consideration by the NWDA, the organisation empowered to carry out Detailed Project Reports for the river link progamme.

Intra State river linkage programme involves linking of rivers within the state and should essentially not encroach upon the rights of other states.

The NWDA had recently requested all states and union territories to inform it about the details of their river link proposals so that it could extend help keeping the larger picture in mind.

Bihar, which faces the recurring problems of floods, had told the NWDA that it had commenced work on the preparation of DPR of inter-state links of river basins of the state on priority and would seek the NWDA's assistance as and when required in the future.

The Tamil Nadu Government had asked the NWDA to study two state link proposals and the proposal was being examined by the Central Water Commission and the NWDA, an official release said.

Jharkhand had proposed three state river links while Gujarat had proposed one link and the NWDA had agreed to examine and carry out requisite studies.

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