Interlinking of rivers reaching new goals, assures Uma Bharati

Underscoring that interlinking of rivers is reaching new goals, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati on Saturday said steps are being taken to address the drinking water requirements of Mumbai till 2060.

"Interlinking of rivers is successfully reaching new goals. .. There will be no problem for drinking water till 2060 (for Mumbai)," she said while delivering her valedictory address at the India Water Week which concluded in New Delhi.

She also said that the proposed Yamuna-Sharda link will increase the water flow in Yamuna. "(Due to) The Yamuna-Sharda link, which starts from Pancheshwar, there will be more water than Yamuna actually wants," she stated while underlining the need for rejuvenating the river Yamuna.

The Minister also announced year 2015-16 will be celebrated as 'Jal Kranti Varsh' across the country. Minister of State for Water Resources Sanwar Lal Jat, acting CEO of Australian Water Commission Richard Mcloughlin and others also spoke on the occasion.