Budget 2022: Five river linking projects get push
Five rivers links namely- Damanganga-Pinjal, Par Tapi- Narmada, Godavari-Krishna, Krishna-Pennar, and Pennar-Cauvery have been finalised.
New Delhi: The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced in the Union Budget that the river linking project will be initiated and earmarked Rs. 44,605 crore.
Five rivers links namely- Damanganga-Pinjal, Par Tapi- Narmada, Godavari-Krishna, Krishna-Pennar, and Pennar-Cauvery have been finalised.
Sitharaman revealed that the Centre would extend all possible support for the implementation of 5 more river linking projects provided that the respective state governments reach a consensus on the same.
Finance Minister said that the implementation of the Ken-Betwa link project at an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605 crores will be taken up. This is aimed at providing irrigation to 9.0 lakh hectares of farmers' land, drinking water supply to 62 lakh people, 103 megawatts of hydro, 27 megawatts of solar power, allocations of Rs.4300 crore in the RE 21-22 and Rs.1400 crore in 22-23 have been made for this project, she explained.
Once a consensus has been reached among the beneficiary states, the Centre will provide support for their implementation," Nirmala Sitharaman added.
The announcement pertaining to the Ken-Betwa project assumes significance ahead of the upcoming election in Uttar Pradesh as it is expected to boost socio-economic prosperity in the backward Bundelkhand region.
