River link will be a washout: Singh

While the Government has decided to go ahead with linking of all rivers in a decade, it has opposition coming from none other than Magsaysay...

While the Government has decided to go ahead with linking of all rivers in a decade, it has opposition coming from none other than Magsaysay award winner Rajendra Singh.

Terming the Government’s decision as ‘‘mission impossible’’, Singh said: ‘‘Why did the Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee speak about this just before the Gujarat elections — because he (PM) knew it was an emotive issue in Gujarat. It was an election stunt and the BJP tried to reap a political harvest. Otherwise, who doesn’t know that linking of the rivers is just impossible ?’’

In Raipur to speak at a workshop on privatisation of water sources, Singh said he believes that even the Prime Minister is being mislead by his own advisors on the issue. ‘‘Officials in the Planning Commission know that except Brahmamputra, no other river has surplus water. So, what is this linking all about,’’ he asked.

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His most serious objection, he said, was treating the water as property not as a natural national asset. This itself opens the route for privatisation and consumerism, making water a marketable product. Clause 13 of the Water Policy, that relates to the ownership, leasing and services in the context of water sources, is a grave violation of people’s rights, he alleged.

Asking for sweeping changes in the policy and involving the community in the management, protection and utilisation of water resources, he alleged that the Centre had asked for his suggestions before finalising the Water Policy but the final document was an exact contradiction of what the Prime Minister had assured him.

And the implications, he said, would be dangerous. ‘‘There will be litigation and disputes amongst rivers-users. The Government will be called upon to set up special water dispute tribunals and thousands and crores will be spent on settling these disputes. Also, the money proposed for linking of the rivers does not include the amount to be spent on rehabilitation of displaced families or compensations,’’ he reasoned.

The Magsaysay award winner also flayed the recently-approved Rashtriya Jal Neeti (National water policy). ‘‘It’s time to call it a fraud,’’ he said, charging the PM with doublespeak.