Yamunanagar: Terming the reduced water level in Yamuna as the "main" concern, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti Monday said the government wants to develop it in a way that farmers get adequate water for irrigation while continuous flow in the river is maintained.
The percentage of water share should not get affected in Haryana and Delhi, she said.
Bharti was speaking at Hathnikund Barrage in Yamunanagar district, a Haryana government release said.
She said development is possible without damaging rivers while purification of all drains flowing into Yamuna would be done to make it clean.
"Either close all the drains completely or put the water in the river only after purifying it," she said and asked officers to start a special campaign to save the river from pollution.
She said work is underway on seven schemes to connect rivers including Dabang Ganga, Pinjal, Pratapi, Narmada, Ken- Betwa, Pancheshwar Parvati, Kali Singh, among others.
Of these, the Ken-Betwa project has already been passed by the Union Cabinet.
Bharti said that the government has for the first time constituted a River Development Board for conservation of rivers and a plan has been formulated for purification of Yamuna along with the Ganga.
She said that we would have to combine all schemes keeping in view the interests of all sections of the society.
This includes three schemes of farmers, drinking water and continuous flow of water in the rivers.
Bharti said that Yamuna Action Plan has begun in two phases for ensuring a pollution-free Yamuna.
She said she has been visiting the Yamuna area to accelerate the pace of work.
The minister said that rivers like Saraswati, Yamuna, Ganga are not only linked with people on religious beliefs, but our economic development is also linked with them.
Talking about the mythical Saraswati river, she said if we are able to trace its complete route then it would open new dimensions of economic growth and there would be new water resources in Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Bharti said the Centre would extend complete cooperation in this regard.
She said that Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat had constituted a team with Underground Water Board alongwith an ISRO team to trace the passage of Saraswati in which Haryana had done a "commendable" job.
The minister said that in order to increase the flow of water in Yamuna river, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have jointly and Uttarakhand has also individually presented a proposal for setting up bridges.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has proposed storage of rainwater on the vacant land falling between Yamuna river and canal which would help meet water shortage during non-monsoon season.
