Status of inter-linking of rivers plan

Like Ram both Congress and BJP claim ownership of proposal of Interlinking of Rivers. On the status of inter-linking of rivers plan across the country, Shivraj Patil , the Home Minister said it was a difficult proposition pending since the days of K L Rao, who had mooted the proposal during the Indira Gandhi regime. Ananth Kumar of BJP objected to it, saying the plan was mooted by the Vajpayee government and the Supreme Court has sought to know its status. He was speaking in the last session of the parliament.

But the Home Minister said the Centre would have no difficulty in giving its nod to plans relating to linking of rivers within a state provided it did not affect neighbouring states.

Like ILR project both the parties support Sethusamundram ship canal project too, the difference of opinion is with regard to a technical issue of alignment.

Given the political consensus on both the projects , environmental groups seem to be living in a fool's paradise sans any teeth.