Our share of river water goes to Pakistan, will divert it into Punjab and Delhi: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources and River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari said that his ministry plans to divert Indian share of water flowing to Pakistan through major Himalayalan Rivers. He was speaking to Organiser about the four years ‘achievements of Narendra Modi-led NDA Government in an interview.

“It is true that the water of our share is going to Pakistan. I am trying my best to ensure that we provide that water to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Since the water of many of our rivers is still untapped, we have decided to utilise that water,” he said.

Nitin Gadkari also said that his ministry is taking up some projects of interlinking of rivers. “They include Pancheshwar, Ken-Betwa, Tapti and Narmada. Two projects are going to come up at Godavari. If we store Godavari water in Maharashtra, we can fill at least 40 dams there and the areas like Marathwada, Nashik and Malegaon will never face water crisis, he said. “The question is not of water shortage, but of its management,” he added.

 

Shri Gadkari also said that he hopes to clear the river Ganga about 70-80 per cent by March 2019. “We have started 11 projects for it in Patna, seven in Kanpur and three in Varanasi. We are also working on some other projects in other cities. We are identifying the drains falling into the Ganga. We are planning to produce methane from that sewage water. It will help us run 5,000 pollution-free buses from that. We are also entering into an agreement with Indian Oil for Ganga,” he added.

Speaking about the four years of the Government, Shri Gadkari said that there is a fundamental difference of approach in the Governance model of Narendra Modi led NDA. “In order to understand that you will have to compare our 48 months under the leadership of PM Modi with the 48 years rule of the Congress Party. We do not differentiate or discriminate between the people on the basis of caste, creed, gender or political ideologies when it comes to key governance issues,” he said. The minister also said that Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is a matter of conviction for the BJP and not just slogan. “Therefore, you see decisive decision making and effective implementation on all fronts,” he added.

Read the complete interview in the coming print edition of Organiser.