"There has been a proposal from the Centre to interlink the Teesta, Sankosh and Manas rivers in North Bengal and link it with the Ganga. The objective is to ensure a good supply of water to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan," said Subhash Naskar,
state minister for water resources and irrigation.
However, the state government has decided to oppose the proposed interlinking of the three rivers on two grounds.
First, West Bengal will be deprived of the necessary and adequate water supply for irrigation if the interlinking project materialises.
"This will inevitably jeopardise the agricultural production of the state," said Naskar.
Moreover, the state government apprehends that the proposed interlinking could lead to the destruction of the elephant corridors near the forest areas in North Bengal.
"A number of factors have come into play. Environmental blunders could be a possibility but what one first needs to look at is who the project will serve, how it will be undertaken and whether it is feasible at all," said VK Yadav, Deputy Chief Wildlife
Warden, West Bengal.
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