Date:02/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/02/stories/2003050202851300.htm

National

Panel to study alternatives to river grid

By Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI MAY 1. The Task Force on Interlinking Rivers has constituted an Independent Group of Experts for examining alternative proposals to interlinking suggested by various people.

Another group — Communication Core Group for mass awareness — has also been formed with the specific purpose of monitoring news regarding interlinking of rivers, to project the ``benefits'', prepare a list of eminent persons who can write on the project and make brochures on the subject.

This group is headed by the vice-president of the Task Force, V.B. Patel.

The two-member Independent Group of Experts comprise Prof. Emeritus of the All-India Council for Technical Education, P.B.S. Sarma and former IIT professor, Subhash Chander.

The group will study proposals on interlinking received from D.J. Dastur, M.D. Pol, A.C. Kamraj, S. Dhawan, Roop Chand and m/s Madhav Kanitkar, S.D. Buddhisagar and Arvind Kulkarni.

It will examine the soundness of the hydrological and hydraulic concepts, the cost-benefit projections and for inclusion of any part of the proposal in the interlinking project.