BHOPAL: Expressing serious concern over repeated droughts in the Bundelkhand region, the two-day convention organised by waterman Rajendra Singh in Khajuraho urged the Centre to reconsider its Ken-Betwa river linking project."In the times of climate change and global warming, when the rivers are threatened and pollution levels going up, linking of Ken with Betwa rivers in Bundelkhand would not serve the purpose", Sanjay Singh, convener of Jal-Jan- Jodo ( connect people with water) convention told TOI.Quoting professor Rajendra Poddar of University of Agricultural Sciences , Dharwad, Singh said the professor was concerned over the declining flow of most rivers in India."These are times when rivers are losing their perennial nature, which is also threatening their very existence and there is no need of linking the rivers. The governments should be more concerned about increasing their flow", Singh said, quoting professor Poddar.Referring to the environmental impact of the river linking project, professor Poddar has stated that the ecology of rivers would be adversely affected.Rajendra Singh, the recipient of the Stockholm Water Prize, reiterated that the linking of rivers would not serve their purpose. "There was need to link people with rivers and to create awareness among them, especially in rural areas to conserve them", the waterman said.The river linking project is proposed at Panna district, barely 45 kilometres away from Khajuraho, which many think can threaten the very existence of Panna National Park. With an estimated cost of more than Rs 7,600 crore, the diversion of surplus water from Ken basin to water deficit Betwa basin is planned through a 221-km long canal to irrigate 6.35 lakh hectare area in the Bundelkhand region that is drought-prone. The project once completed would provide drinking water to over 13 lakh people in the arid region. The project, many claims will affect the Panna National Park by submerging 55.78 sq km(10.07%) of critical tiger habitat.The convention also proposed satellite mapping of the land where the government wants to construct water ponds in Bundelkhand before the arrival of monsoon next year.In the presence of Rajendra Singh and social activist Anna Hazare , the convention also recommended identification and demarcation of all water bodies of Bundelkhand, especially the lakes that were constructed during the Chandela era. "The list of all the water bodies and the area in which they are spread should be notified and ratified by the gram sabhas", said Sanjay Singh.The two-day water convention ended on Sunday.

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