Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Nov 07, 2003
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Nov 07, 2003 |
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Industry & Economy
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Water Government - Politics Kerala reiterates opposition to interlinking of rivers Our Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram , Nov. 6 KERALA has reiterated its stiff objection to the proposal for interlinking of rivers, which it said was heavily loaded against its interests. Speaking at the National Water Convention in Bhubaneshwar, the State Minister for Water Resources, Mr T.M. Jacob, said water continued to be a State subject under the provisions of the Constitution. Neither the Centre nor its agencies had the right to interfere in the matter or use its influence to force a decision. Also, it is the bounden duty of the State Government to protect its water resources. Almost all rivers in the State originated from the Western Ghats and followed a course through dense forests for a considerable distance before reaching the plains. Damming them either at the originating point or across the hills downstream would only play havoc with Kerala's typical geographical profile and the ecology at large, apart from leading to destruction of a large numbers of flora and fauna. The Minister argued that the dynamics were such that no single State coming within the scope of the project could afford to lower its guard against the likely ramifications of the project. This, according to an official, immediately struck a chord with representatives of other State Governments present at the conference. The State Government was not favourably disposed to even consider the Pampa-Achenkoil-Vypar link, which was originally proposed to be taken up in the initial phase of implementation of the larger national project. The three-way-link proposed for diverting water from the Pampa and Achenkoil rivers to Vypar in Tamil Nadu. According to the Minister, the decision to this effect taken by the National Water Development Commission (NWDC) was biased and at no point was the State Government consulted. The Pampa and Achenkoil originated and ended within the territorial jurisdiction of Kerala and hence were the State's own rivers. The State Government has exclusive rights to decide on use of its resources.
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