River-linking raises storm

Prabhu, at a FICCI seminar here on Wednesday, had said that studies on the Ken-Betwa link in Madhya Pradesh and the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link were on in full swing. But he did not specify any deadline for completing the study.

Attacking the river-linking project, Patkar said Ken-Betwa river link was based on wrong assumptions of surplus and deficit basins. The project managers lack a basic approach to plans, she said.

Demanding that the Centre put forth all the detailed project reports (DPRs) for critical study by people’s movements, Patkar said planners had ignored the need of within-the-basin impact assessments. ‘‘This was needed since linking two rivers is like linking two live eco-systems,’’ she said.

Independent studies in Ken and Betwa basins have produced conflicting scenes about quantum of surplus water, she said. Her observations were based on a report which NAPM managed to procure despite non-transparent project managers, she added. Both Patkar and Iyer raised questions about claims on benefits from the project like achieving food security, flood control mechanism and generating employment by transferring water from surplus to deficit river basins.

Patkar demanded that the Centre come out with clear assurance on foreign investors not creating stakes in the project.

Prabhu, who was in an attacking mode in his opening remarks, sought to assure NAPM activists of his attempts to achieve total transparency.