File Photo of Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti (Press Trust of India)
Government today said that it is studying an alternative alignment for the proposed Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga link which will be almost "forest- free".
In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said study is being carried for Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga link avoiding Manas Tiger Reserve, Buxa Tiger Reserves and other forests.
The Manas-Sankosh-Teesta- Ganga link canal envisages diversion of surplus water of Manas and Sankosh rivers with supplementation from the intermediate major streams for the benefit of augmenting the flows of Ganga at Farakka, she said in her reply yesterday.
It aims to further transfer it to water short areas of Krishna, Pennar and Cauvery basins and providing irrigation facilities to the enroute command areas.
This link will comprise two dams on rivers Manas and Sankosh inside Bhutan territory and a gravity flow canal for diverting substantial quantum of water to river Ganga upstream of Farakka barrage, she said.
The pre-feasibility report of the link has already been prepared, the Minister said, while adding that the feasibility report could not be prepared as the canal is passing through the Manas-Tiger Reserve and Buxa Tiger Reserve and other forests.
"Considering practical difficulties for surveys and investigation in Manas-Sankosh and Sankosh-Teesta reaches, National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has carried out alternate alignment studies for Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga link avoiding Manas Tiger Reserve and Buxa Tiger Reserves and other forests," Ms Bharti said.
As an alternative option, almost forest-free Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga link is under study, she said, adding that preparation of feasibility report of the link is under progress.