River linking projects : Centre trying to build consensus among states, says C R Patil

Speaking during a debate on the demands for grants of the Jal Shakti ministry, Patil said 30 rivers have been identified for inter-linking and detailed project reports (DPRs) have been prepared for 11.

New Delhi: Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil told the Lok Sabha on Friday that the Centre is working on to build a consensus among states on river inter-linking projects.

Speaking during a debate on the demands for grants of the Jal Shakti ministry, Patil said that 30 rivers have been identified for inter-linking and detailed project reports (DPRs) have been prepared for 11.

Citing a lack of consensus among river basin states on the subject, the Minister said the Centre is working to bring them on the same page.

The National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared by the then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) in August 1980 for water resources development through inter-basin transfer of water and transferring water from water-surplus basins to water-deficit basins. Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component and 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparing feasibility reports.

Responding to claims made by opposition members regarding slow pace in the implementation of the "Nal se Jal" scheme and cases of alleged corruption, Patil said more than 15 crore households have been provided with tap-water connections, which is 80 percent of the target.

Citing an independent report, the minister said 5.5 crore hours of women are being saved every day by providing households with tap connections as now, they do not have to travel for kilometres to fetch water.

As many as 25 lakh women across five lakh villages have been provided kits to check water quality, which proves that the Narendra Modi government is providing safe, potable water to citizens.