Munda demands rivers preservation policy (Political & Business Daily 13 December 2010)

Jamshedpur, Dec 12 (PTI) Expressing concern over the "pathetic situation" of rivers in the country, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda has demanded a policy to preserve them."Discussions on the condition of rivers are being held for the past many years but the country continues to be affected due to improper management of the rivers," he said at a seminar ''Condition of rivers in India'' here yesterday."The importance of rivers for every living being is known and we should focus on concrete steps to preserve the rivers, which are in a pathetic situation ... We will be responsible for the natural disasters if we failed to protect them," he said.The situation in Jharkhand was likely to worsen as deficient rainfall, due to imbalance in nature, was becoming an annual phenomenon, he said.Later, talking to newsmen, Munda held construction of dams responsible for the prevailing condition of the rivers which was depriving the people, specially farmers of water.The condition of rivers like Damodar and Swarnarekha which flow through the state was not good and the issues had been discussed at various levels including with the Planning Commission. But the schemes launched during the last 30 years have not benefited the people much, Munda said.