M.P. to link three more rivers with Narmada.

Buoyed by the successful testing of Narmada-Kshipra Simhasth Link Project, Madhya Pradesh government announced that rivers Gambhir, Kalisindh and Parvati will be linked with Narmada.

'Gambhir, Parvati and Kalisindh rivers will be linked with the river Narmada and a DPR (detailed project report) is under process in consultation with the officers concerned,' Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said after inspecting the spot at Ujjaini village where Narmada and Kshipra were linked successfully.

When asked about time-frame, Chouhan said, 'There are number of issues which require government clearances. The time-frame will be known only after completion of DPR.'

The Chief Minister said Narmada-Kshipra project was inspired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ambitious river-linking scheme.

On the occasion of Narmada Jayanti recently, the river was successfully linked with Kshipra in realisation of an old proposal.

'We have successfully linked the two rivers in just 14 months which was described impossible is some quarters,' Chouhan said.

The Narmada-Kshipra project will be formally inaugurated around February 25. The first phase was completed with the investment of Rs. 432 crore and now the work for the second phase will start.

The spot where Narmada has been linked with Kshipra will be developed as a religious tourism destination.

Earlier, Urban Administration and Development Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya claimed that Congress leader and former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh had termed the project as 'ipossible to implement.'


HBL