BNP, one of the major political parties in the country on Wednesday warned about India`s recent plans of dams and tunnels construction with river link project to meet their demands of water. The party now worried about negative impacts on Bangladesh`s environment and ecosystem after the project implemented in India. BNP spokesperson Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon came up with the warning while addressing a press conference in the capital`s Nayapaltan party headquarters, this noon. BNP`s worry came after publishing media reports in this connection in India recently. On July 13, India`s English language daily, Times of India, reported, looking to meet Mumbai`s drinking water demand till 2060, the Centre and the Maharashtra and Gujarat governments have formally agreed to link Damanganga and Pinjal rivers through multi-purpose dams and tunnels. “Besides, the Centre has conceived a project to meet Delhi`s needs by linking Sharda river on the India-Nepal border with the parched Yamuna near the Capital via Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh,” The report continued. The project, having three dams and two tunnels, is expected to be completed in seven years. It will divert surplus water of Damanganga river at Bhugad and Khargihill reservoirs to Pinjal reservoir in Vaitarna basin from where the combined water of Damanganga and Pinjal rivers will be further taken to Mumbai, repots added. Announcing the decision on the eve of India Water Week (January 13-17), Indian water resources and river development minister Uma Bharati said, “Damanganga-Pinjal river link project will take care of Mumbai`s water need till 2060. Both Gujarat and Maharashtra readily agreed for this link. Work on this ambitious project will begin soon.” It will be the third project to be taken up for implementation by the government. The Centre, in coordination with states concerned, has already taken up the Ken-Betwa river link project in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and the Par-Tapi-Narmada link in Gujarat. “We are proposing three new dams including one in Renuka in Uttarakhand for this new link. We have started discussions with the state. These three dams will also supply water for the farming requirements of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh,” Bharati said. The minister recalled that an agreement was signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Nepal last year on Pancheshwar, which has an element for preparing the new link. The minister on Monday also announced various other measures being taken up by her ministry to rejuvenate the Ganga. She said her ministry in consultation with the defence ministry has already finalized a plan to raise four battalions (over 3,000 personnel) of the Ganga Task Force (GTF) under Territorial Army. Ex-servicemen from across the country will join the GTF that will keep tabs on various activities along river banks so that people adhere to certain dos and don`ts to keep Ganga clean. With the input of Times of India. – risingbd.com
