The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) under the Government of India has studied two river linking projects in the State, said Water Resources Minister Tukuni Sahu on Thursday.
Replying to a question of BJD MLA Soumya Ranian Patnaik in the State Assembly, Sahu said that the NWDA has studied and prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on linking Mahandi (Baramul) to Godavari (Dwaileiswaram) and has mentioned that the water availability at Baramul depends on water flow from neighbouring Chhattisgarh. She said the Mahandi issue with Chhatisgarh is pending with the Mahandi Water Dispute Tribunal.
The second river linking project is between Subarnarekha and Mahandi rivers. The NWDA has also studied details of the project. The project passes through some plane, populated and irrigated area. The State Government has also sought clarifications from upper stream States like Assam and West Bengal concerning the project, she said.