The Hindu : Sub-groups to undertake preliminary studies

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Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003

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Sub-groups to undertake preliminary studies

By Gargi Parsai

New Delhi Jan. 6. The first meeting of the Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers, chaired by Suresh Prabhu, today appointed five sub-groups to study various aspects of the issue.

Mr. Prabhu will begin a series of meetings with the Chief Ministers as a prelude to a meeting likely to be convened this month by the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to arrive at a consensus on interlinking rivers. The issue will also be on the agenda of the meeting of Governors convened by the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on January 10.

The five sub-groups will study the economic viability of the scheme, social issues (such as rehabilitation of people likely to be displaced), ecology (including forests, environment and wildlife), engineering and international dimensions. The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, will be an Adviser to the Task Force on organisational structure for implementation of the project.

The four-hour-long meeting was attended by among others the vice-president of the Task Force, C.C. Patel, the member-secretary, C.B. Thatte, Additional Secretary in the Water Resources Ministry, Radha Singh, and the Water Commissioner, M.K. Sharma.

In answer to a specific question, Mr. Prabhu said non-government organisations would be associated with the project. He would nominate a part-time member from the voluntary sector on the Task Force. An economist, a sociologist and legal/wildlife experts and nominees from deficit and surplus States would also be appointed part-time members after the approval of the Prime Minister. At the next meeting of the Task Force, expected within three weeks, the schemes that should be taken up first would be prioritised, Mr. Prabhu said. Also, the ways and means of raising finances would be worked out. The project, involving 30 links over 10 years, is expected to cost Rs. 560,000 crores.

The Task Force would provide guidance on norms of appraisal of projects, devise mechanism for building consensus, prioritise Detailed Project Reports and propose a structure for implementation, funding and international aspects.

According to a timetable set by the Prime Minister's Office, the preparation of Action Plan I should be completed by April 30, 2003. Mr. Prabhu felt this was possible.

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