Centre’s river interlinking plan needs reconsideration, warns Sandhwan on environmental risks

North News

Chandigarh, January 3

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has called for a comprehensive review of the Centre’s river interlinking initiative, describing it as an unprecedented intervention in natural systems. He warned that such projects could harm agricultural productivity and disrupt monsoon patterns. In a statement, Sandhwan highlighted the recent inauguration of the Ken-Betwa River Interlinking Project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Madhya Pradesh. While the Centre claims the project aims to address water scarcity in drought-prone areas, the Speaker pointed to scientific concerns about its potential to significantly alter natural hydrological systems.

Sandhwan expressed fears that large-scale hydrological modifications could destabilize established monsoon patterns, jeopardizing agricultural sustainability and other sectors. He urged the government to focus on water conservation and recycling programs, including advanced water treatment and purification technologies. The Ken-Betwa Link Project, the first of 30 initiatives under the National Perspective Plan by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, aims to divert surplus water from Madhya Pradesh’s Ken River to Uttar Pradesh’s Betwa River, boosting irrigation in the Bundelkhand region.

Sandhwan emphasized the need for a cautious approach, advocating for strategies that balance development with ecological preservation.