Rahul Gandhi opposes interlinking of rivers

Note:The opposition to ecologically disastrous projects like Interlinking of Rivers is the litmus test for sanity. It required political spine of likes of Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, Kerela and Punjab Assembly to respond to an populist but unsound project of networking of rivers being promoted by people like APJ Kalam, Mukesh Ambani, Karunanidhi and Advani aided by the misplaced enthusiam of judiciary. The project is an exercise in environmental terrorism. Similar river diversion plans led to the Aral Sea disaster engineered by the former Soviet Union.

The gulf between the views of Indian National Congress and the government led by the party is illustrated by the policy pronouncements of its concerned minister. on June 28, 2009 Pawan Kumar Bansal, Water Resources Minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was asked at the Idea Exchange Programme of Indian Express: Is this government going to pursue the interlinking of rivers project? Bansal had responded, "Thirty systems that could be linked have been identified. Feasibility reports have been prepared for 16 of those 30. But water is a state subject, so the Centre cannot impose anything. It acts as a facilitator and a catalyst to promote judicious use of water." Indian Express has been biased in favour of the project.

On July 9, 2009, replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Bansal reiterated, 30 river links were identified for inter-linking. The government is considering five river-linking projects for diversion of surplus flood water to water deficient areas. "Based on preliminary studies, 30 links with aggregate irrigation potential of 35 million hectare have been identified and National Water Development Agency has been assigned the responsibility of preparation of feasibility report and the detailed project reports," he said. Of these, five projects have been prioritised and detailed feasibility reports are being prepared.

Earlier, in April, 2009 even the National Water Mission's Comprehensive Mission Document (Revised Draft)under National Action Plan on Climate Change refers to "expeditious formulation of river interlinking projects by March 2012". This document has been endorsed by the Prime Minister's Office as well.

There seems to be some powerful groups at work who are compelling the Prime Minister's Office and its Water Resources Ministry to undertake catastrophic rewriting of geography through networking of rivers.

Can one now expect that the political wisdom of Indian National Congress and UPA (barring DMK) will translate into the policy pronouncements of the UPA government and rectify its apparent double speak on Interlinking of Rivers project?.

Gopal Krishna

Rahul Gandhi opposes interlinking of rivers

Chennai, Sep 10 : AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today said he was strongly opposed to the idea of interlinking of rivers nationally.

When pointed out at a press conference here that the proposal of interlinking of rivers had not yet materialised, Mr Gandhi said ''my personal opinion is that such a move will be disastrous''.

"Enviornmentlaly it is extremely dangerous...playing with environment is not a good idea," he added.

He, however, said it was his personal opinion.

Asked about late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's working on the idea of linking Godavarai and Krishna rivers as part of the 'Jalayagyam programme', Mr Gandhi said ''at the local level, interlinking of rivers may have prospects of increase in irrigation.'' ''But it will be a disaster at the national level,'' he added.

--UNI