MP Forest department throws hurdle in path of river-linking project

NEW DELHI: With the Madhya Pradesh Forest department yet to give nod for it, the Centre's ambitious river interlinking project is likely to be delayed.

An official of the Ministry said they have got permission for the project area that falls in Uttar-Pradesh.

The project-related works in Madhya Pradesh awaits a green signal by the state's Forest department.

A National Water Development Agency (NWDA) official said that a fresh proposal has been sent to the state's Forest and Wildlife department after they had voiced concern over the earlier plan.

Union Water Resources and River Development Minister Uma Bharti is hopeful that the project would commence by the end of this year, as was announced earlier.

"The river-linking programme is an ambitious project of the Narendra Modi government. I hope that the work would commence by end of this year with linking of Ken and Betwa rivers," she said.

According to the detailed project report, 60,000 hectare of agricultural land will get irrigation facility once the project is completed.

The large-scale project aims at reducing flood and water scarcity risks in the country by linking rivers through a network of reservoirs and canals.