Hema Malini for inter-linking of rivers to tackle water crisis

New Delhi, April 28: With several parts of the country facing water crisis, BJP member Hema Malini on Thursday,April 28 made a strong plea in the Lok Sabha for taking up the ambitious scheme of linking of rivers, a project envisaged by the Vajpayee regime.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, the noted actress-turned-politician said depletion of water level needs to be tackled urgently through various means including rain water harvesting.

The MP from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh wanted a multi-pronged approach including regulating digging of borewells, saying that the indiscriminate exploitation of ground water is playing havoc at a time when the country's population is growing.

She referred to reports which suggested how water in Ganga is depleting and the problems faced by Yamuna.

Noting that the idea of linking of rivers was promoted when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, she underlined the need to go in for a pilot project to see the feasibility of the ambitious scheme. Hema Malini also wanted involving the private sector in cleaning the water bodies.

Besides, she said the government should undertake such task through MGNREGA.

PTI