AMARAVATI: Putting the plans for linking of Godavari-Krishna-Penna-Cauvery rivers on fast track, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has decided to hold talks with all key stakeholders to iron out the differences.
After clearing the action plan for linking of Ken-Betwa rivers in UP and Madhya Pradesh, the NWDA has now decided to ready the blueprint for linking of Godavari, Krishna, Penna and Cauvery.
The NWMA is holding an online conference with senior officials of irrigation department from nine states including AP, Telangana and Tamil Nadu to discuss the draft report on the proposal on January 19. Although, the taskforce on river linking concept had already come out with some designs, lack of consensus between Telugu states is delaying the project.
Centre to bear cost, DPRs of 3 links ready
The Union Jal Shakti ministry is keen to take the river linking ahead to make good of additional flood flows into the rivers due to the severe floods in the recent past. The Centre is expected to take the entire financial burden of the river linkage project once cleared by the states. The first phase of Godavari-Krishna-Penna-Cauvery (Inchamaplli-Nagarjuna Sagar-Somasila-Grand Anicut) project is expected to cost around Rs 85,000 crore.
The Centre had already readied detailed project reports (DPRs) of three links namely Godavari-Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link, Krishna (Nagarjunasagar)-Penna (Somasila) link and Penna (Somasila)-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link under Godavari-Krishna-Cauvery alternative link scheme.
