05-27-2004, 10:21 PM
<b>No hasty decision on river linking: Minister</b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Kolkata, May 27.(PTI): Union Water Resources minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi today said the Centre would not formulate any 'hasty' decision on the inter-linking of rivers without taking respective state governments into confidence and considering international ramifications.
"<b>The Government of India shall not formulate any hasty decision on the project without taking the state governments into confidence and keeping in mind the international dimensions,"</b> [oh ya, we need Bangladesh permission] Das Munshi told newsmen after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee.
Stating that the report of the task force, headed by Suresh Prabhu, was not 'sufficiently exhaustive,' he said that the feasibility of linking 16 rivers in the Himalayan Zone and 14 in the Peninsular Zone had not been sufficiently studied.
<b>Das Munshi said that he would submit a report on the project to the Prime Minister after studying the task force report in detail and interacting with environmental and water scientists, besides NGOs</b>. [yes, invite Pathkar and A. Roy for future discussion]
When it was pointed out that Bangladesh had expressed reservations about the project, the minister said: "The government has not taken any decision. Only a study is being done. After the study is complete, the options will be either to expand its scope, or review the study report or modify it."
He said that the previous government had not taken any policy decision on the inter-linking of rivers
Kolkata, May 27.(PTI): Union Water Resources minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi today said the Centre would not formulate any 'hasty' decision on the inter-linking of rivers without taking respective state governments into confidence and considering international ramifications.
"<b>The Government of India shall not formulate any hasty decision on the project without taking the state governments into confidence and keeping in mind the international dimensions,"</b> [oh ya, we need Bangladesh permission] Das Munshi told newsmen after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee.
Stating that the report of the task force, headed by Suresh Prabhu, was not 'sufficiently exhaustive,' he said that the feasibility of linking 16 rivers in the Himalayan Zone and 14 in the Peninsular Zone had not been sufficiently studied.
<b>Das Munshi said that he would submit a report on the project to the Prime Minister after studying the task force report in detail and interacting with environmental and water scientists, besides NGOs</b>. [yes, invite Pathkar and A. Roy for future discussion]
When it was pointed out that Bangladesh had expressed reservations about the project, the minister said: "The government has not taken any decision. Only a study is being done. After the study is complete, the options will be either to expand its scope, or review the study report or modify it."
He said that the previous government had not taken any policy decision on the inter-linking of rivers