Maharashtra Government strongly opposes the proposed Par-Tapi-Narmada river-linking project, as it does not want to spare its surplus water to Gujarat. Besides the Government, Jalchintan Abhiyantriki Sanstha, an NGO working for water issues, and all parties also protested against the linking of the Damanganga with the Pinjal, and the Paar with the Tapi, as the link would affect the water situation of Maharashtra. Telangana, another state that is against the interlinking plan, has asked the Centre to conduct a new water balance study before proceeding with these river linking plans.
Gujarat Government has commissioned a 10 MW solar power plant atop the Sardar Sarovar canal. The Project, which is the first of its kind in the country, consists of 33,816 solar photovoltaic panels and is expected to generate 16.2 million units of electricity in the first year. It will not only provide clean energy to Vadodara but also protect the canal water from evaporating. Impressed by this, the Centre has decided to promote similar projects in other states and has allocated Rs. 228 crore for the same.
Over 50 human bodies were found in a canal that connects the Periyar Ghat to the Ganga in Unnao district. The Uttar Pradesh Government has ordered a probe to understand the cause of the incident. A research report by environment expert and Ganga researcher B D Tripathi has claimed that more than 3,000 bodies were disposed of in the river in a year in just the Varanasi stretch of the river.
The Government has said that the interlinking of the Ken and Betwa rivers will be taken up come what may. Also, the Government has claimed that the local people are in support of the project and that its public hearing was successful. The Ken-Betwa river link envisages diversion of water from the water-surplus Ken to the water-deficit Betwa to benefit Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court accuses Narmada Project officials over rampant corruption, to the tune of Rs. 1000 crore. The cause of corruption is the Madhya Pradesh Government's policy to hand over cash instead of land as compensation to the Narmada dam oustees. The High Court has ordered the State Government to scrutinise all cases of corruption. Intellectuals and professionals have written an open letter to United Nation Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who visited Gujarat last week, seeking justice for Narmada dam outsees.
This is a roundup of important news from January 12 - 18, 2015. Also read last week's policy updates.