Title: Need to take up the project to link peninsular rivers for better water management.
SHRI D. VENUGOPAL (TIRUPPATTUR): No, I shall read it.
*Madam Chairperson, several action plans pertaining to river water resources of the country ensuring optimum utilisation have not been taken up for many years now. On one side, we have wasteful flow of rivers into the sea. On the other side, we have disputes that cause hurdles to river water sharing between States. On another side, we have the problem of not being able to bring more land under irrigation. Problems grow abound. Setting in a second Green Revolution is the need of the hour. Scientific water management must develop in our country which has agriculture as the basis of its economy. Hence, we must take up certain urgent measures till the completion of linking Ganga and Cauvery rivers. As early as in 1977, technical feasibility of linking peninsular rivers has been identified. Rivers of the West, East and the South must be linked with one another. This would help improving irrigation, increasing agricultural production and boosting economy. Thereupon it might provide a fillip to the feasibility of linking Ganga with Cauvery after providing for a high power pumping station in the Vindhyas. Hence, I urge upon the Government to be farsighted to take up immediately the project to link peninsular rivers.
* Translation of the speech Originally delivered in Tamil