New Delhi, Feb 05: A meeting of state water resources and irrigation ministers today saw general consensus on inter-linking of rivers and the contentious issue of water rates, but a proposal to set up third irrigation commission was deferred following reservations expressed by some states. A highlight of the meet was adoption of a document "vision for integrated water resources development and management" and action plan for implementation of national water policy.
The meet saw states raising "various queries" on inter-linking of rivers as it was a "novel proposal", but there was no opposition to the move, Union water resources minister Arjun Charan Sethi told reporters.
Asked about reports that Maharashtra had opposed the proposal, he replied in the negative saying that the Congress president Sonia Gandhi, whose party runs the state, has already come out in support of the ambitious project.
Briefing reporters after the day-long 12th National Conference of Water Resources and irrigation ministers, he as also the Union minister of state for water resources Bijoya Chakravarthy said that the Centre assured the states that the programme of inter-linking of rivers would be undertaken only after obtaining their consent.
Sethi told the states that the Centre has an "open mind" on suggestions from them about the project.
He said that all states agreed on the need for increasing the water rates to recover the operation and maintenance cost of irrigation projects.
States, however, expressed reservation on the proposal for setting up a third water commission, he said adding that a working group would now be set up on the issue. Bureau Report