|
The Government has constituted a high level committee headed by Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources along with Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests as members besides ten other well-known environmentalists, social scientists and other experts to continue the consultative process on ILR concept. The committee has been constituted in the background of the fact that the National Minimum Programme of the UPA Government had indicated that it will make a comprehensive assessment of the feasibility of linking the rivers of the country starting with the southern rivers and this assessment will be done in a fully consultative manner. As a follow up, the Ministry of Water Resources has carried out the assessment of this programme in consultation with various stake holders including the State Governments. Shri P. R. Dasmunsi, Minister of Water Resources had apprised the Hon’ble President on this matter and subsequently made a presentation before the Prime Minister on inter-linking of rivers during October 2004. It has been decided by the Government to pursue the inter-linking of rivers programme with a focus on peninsular component in a consultative manner.
The committee will advise the Government on the following aspects of the ILR concept.
Environmental and socio-economic issues covered in the Terms of Reference (TOR) for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
Rehabilitation & Resettlement package for the persons affected by ILR programme keeping in view the National R&R policy and structure of the agency for its implementation.
Additional studies needed to be carried out, to address any other concerns in the ILR programme.
Impact of proposed inter basin transfer of water links on settlements, occupations and other socio-economic activities, while preparing the DPRs.
Adoption of appropriate measures for optimum utilization of transferred water especially in the water short basins while preparing the various DPRs.
The Committee of Environmentalists, Social Scientists and other Experts of the concerned fields like Shri Rajinder Singh, a noted sociologist, Dr. Ashok Khosla, a noted environmentalists Shri Z. Hasan, an expert in the field of water resources.
|
