The Hindu Business Line : Civil Society panel for review of studies on interlinking of rivers

THE National Civil Society Committee on interlinking of rivers in India intends to take up in-depth reviews of the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies of individual river linking issues that make up the entire project of interlinking of rivers in the country, which is estimated to cost Rs 5,60,000 crore.

The 13-member committee, constituted last year under the Chairmanship of Dr Y.K. Alagh, a former Union Science and Technology Minister, includes Prof. Jayanta Bandopadhyay, Prof Kanchan Chopra, Dr Biksham Gujja, Dr S.R. Hashim, Dr Ramaswamy R. Iyer, Dr Ashok Khosla, Mr A.D. Mohile, Mr Ganesh Pangare, Ms Medha Patkar, Dr E.A.S. Sarma, Dr Tushar Shah and Mr B.P. Singh.

Dr Alagh, said that the taskforce appointed by the Union Government to examine the challenges and opportunities involved in undertaking the massive project should make available the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for independent analysis.

"The taskforce should also encourage wider debate on interlinking of rivers in order to move towards a more sustainable land and water development system in India," he said.

At its second meeting at the Administrative Staff College of India here on Saturday, the committee finalised its work plan for 2004 which includes examining the assumptions at the national, regional and local level of interlinking of rivers project in terms of ecosystem imperatives and options, water availability and requirement, food security needs and requirements of widespread rural development.

In a press release, Dr Alagh stated that the reviews would be based on standards of resource information, costs and benefits as stipulated by the Planning Commission, the Ministries of Environment and Forests, Social Justice and Empowerment and Rural Development.

The committee would also facilitate a debate and a review of the statutory criteria and standards related to project planning and approval based on the emerging concepts and concerns of the civil society at large.

According to environmental activist, Ms Medha Patkar, the committee "with its varied views and experiences, yet with a pro-people approach, can surely facilitate a sincere and scientific review of the official claims and bring to the fore the voices and opinions of riverine populations and promote sustainable solutions, especially in the water scarce regions."

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