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`Interlinking of rivers will lead to increased debt'

By Our Staff Reporter

KANCHEEPURAM MAY 30. The two-day Rashtriya Jal Sammelan, which concluded here today, has rejected the Centre's proposal of interlinking of river basins at a cost of Rs. 5,60,000 crores, as it will lead to increased debt and control by external agencies.

The sammelan organised by the Rashtriya Jal Biradari led by Rajendra Singh, in a resolution stated that the interlinking of rivers would lead to large-scale displacement of communities and cause irrevocable damage to river ecologies and forests. Besides, the proposal takes away the control of water resources from local communities and is highly centralised.

The sammelan suggested that drought could be solved by way of decentralised water harvesting, water conservation and management using appropriate technologies, changing crop pattern to suit natural availability of water and responsible use of ground water for irrigation.

Flooding could be solved by ridge to valley water harvesting and aforestation of the hills in catchment area and wasteland development.

The Kanchi Sankaracharya, Vijayendra Saraswati, who delivered the valedictory address, stressed the need for harvesting the rainwater by desilting existing tanks and ponds. Wastage of water should be prevented. A scheme to distribute available excess water to the needy areas should be implemented.

Former Chief Election Commissioner, T. N. Seshan, said rainwater harvesting would improve ground water table for which all tanks and ponds should be desilted.

The convener of Rashtriya Jal Biradari and Magsaysay Awardee, Rajendra Singh, National Fisherman Federation activist, Thomas Kocherry, and a number of experts attended the sammelan.

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