By NNN-PTI
New Delhi : In a bid to increase irrigation and harness the hydro energy potential, the government Thursday decided to declare 14 rivers as national projects providing for nearly full Central assistance for their upkeep.
A meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave its approval to the proposal for implementation of National Projects with Central assistance of 90 per cent of the cost as grant, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters here.
He said in principle clearance has been given for treating the 14 projects as national projects and Union Ministers of Finance and Water Resources and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman would work out a funding mechanism.
Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz described the decision as “landmark” development.
“This will help in utilising share of water in rivers governed by the international treaties apart from creation of additional irrigation potential in the country,” Dasmunsi said.
International projects where usage of water in India is required by a treaty or where planning and early completion of the project is necessary in the interest of the country like Teesta would come under the purview of the national projects, he said.
Inter-state projects, which are dragging on due to non-resolution of disputes with regard to costs and intra-state projects with additional potential of more than 2 lakh hectares and with no dispute regarding sharing of water would also be covered, he said.