E.P Can you tell us what the important functions of your ministry are?

V.P You see, water is a state subject. My ministry basically helps the states develop any water body. For example, we don’t deal with drinking water. We deal with irrigation canals, soil conservation, mainly for irrigation projects. We have farmer participatory projects and different schemes are there. We mainly facilitate the talks between the states whenever there is a dispute between states and we facilitate the talks. This is the main duty of the Water Resources ministry. We funded a few projects in the North East. This at the proposal given by the state. We give all the North East states 90% grant and the other 10% has to be contributed by the state whereas in other parts of the country, some of the schemes are on 50 – 50 basis. 50% by the state and 50% by the centre. Also, some of the schemes are on a 75% by the state and 25% by the centre. It depends on the state and the area of operation.

EP Does the Brahmaputra Board come under your ministry?

V.P Yes, the Brahmaputra Board was constituted in 1982 under the Parliamentary Act. So it comes under the state of Assam and my ministry.

E.P Don’t you think that it is a paradox that in one part of the North East region we have floods while in another part we have droughts? What are you planning to do about this?

V.P Yes, definitely. That is why, since the time of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru an inter – linking of water was proposed. Through this, water from areas with excess will be transferred to areas in deficit. So we are working on this line. There are 30 projects which will be inter – linked. We have divided the 30 projects into two parts, one in the Deccan area and another in the Himalayan area. In the Deccan area, we have almost completed 16 feasibility reports and in the Himalayan area we have completed almost 4 feasibility reports. So this is a big issue and we need to get the consensus between the states and lots of work is still to be done. One survey will take us not less than 10 years to complete. Now the Central Government is also taking this very seriously after the drought affected areas and the flood affected areas.

EP Personally, do you feel that this project should be taken up on a war footing?

V.P See it should be so but the problem is that from the Centre, we can not do anything until and unless there is co – operation from the state.

EP Now another pertinent question relating to your ministry is that we see in the reports that China is constructing a dam within its territory and once it is completed, all the water which we are getting to the Brahmaputra river and Arunachal Pradesh will be diverted to China? There is an area in China which is drought affected. So, are you aware of any such things happening in China?

V.P You see, through water, we have links with seven countries like China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Tibet and so on. All these are linked with India as per the treaty, as per the World Bank. So if a river originates from China, China can not just stop it as it needs to get India’s consent. In the same way, with regards to rivers that flow through India into other countries, India can not just go ahead and stop them without the consent of the other countries. This is why we constituted a committee for this. With every river which we call every river basin we have different problems, especially international problems. Some rivers have not been included in this committee as they are not really important. However, regarding the Brahmaputra, I don’t think that China can just take such steps. I think India has to complain and this has to be solved.

EP But as of today, you do not have any such information about that or heard anything along these lines?

V.P Yes, we have many such problems whether it is in Pakistan or in India for example Tipaimukh, whether in Tibet or in Nepal, we have this problem.

EP Regarding Tipaimukh, there is a lot of hue and cry. Can you comment?

V.P Talks are going on between India and Bangladesh, so whatever we do, it has to be through negotiations. The Government of India will not just do it. We have to get the consent of Bangladesh also. Even if we go ahead, we have to see the interest of Bangladesh also because for each and every basin there is an agreement or a treaty.

EP You said you have connected six rivers pertaining to the Himalayan area?

V.P No, we have only done a feasibility report.

EP Are any of these rivers in the North East?

V.P No, not yet. We have made a proposal for the Brahmaputra but the Brahmaputra has got different tributaries and some of the tributaries are very vulnerable and difficult to control so we try to link it so controlling it will be easier. We are doing a feasibilitysurvey on this.

EP The ground water level has also been going down. So, does your ministry have specific plans for water harvesting?

V.P We are doing that. We have actually started a pilot project and this is being carried out through different institutes like ICAR and we have one in Cherrapunji called Jalkundh. We have a spring canal from there. These are pilot projects and if they are successful, they will be implemented throughout the country. Again, we have held lots of seminars and research on this.

EP Talking about Cherrapunji, why is it that in spite of being one of the places receiving the highest amount of rainfall, there is still a deficit of drinking water?

V.P This is called human error which needs to be corrected and the government alone can not do it. The whole of society has to realise that water is essential. With water we can play, drink, use, misuse, we can have entertainment and sporting activities so it is something that you can not play with. This is all human error that we need t realise. We thought that we should introduce measures even in schools from our ministry. We have conducted a lot of seminars where a lot of proposals have come in and we need to take the advice seriously. Out of 100% water, only 3 % is safe to drink. So this 3% is becoming lesser and lesser day by day. Per capita, before, it was almost more than 2000. Now, we have got hardly 1700 per capita per annum. We have to realise this and as per the predictions, by the year 2050, we will have a huge shortage of water.

EP What special initiatives are you taking for the state of Meghalaya in the process of the national bye – pass?

V.P I had a series of meetings with the officials at Delhi. I met them, so the bye – pass section is already done, tenders have been called for. However, the ministry of Road and Transport has handed it over to the National Highway Authority of India and they have called for tenders under BOT but it seems that the terms and conditions are not to the liking of the contractors so they are modifying it. Again I met the minister and I said that it should not be in the BOT. I have written a letter to them also and they are examining the matter like they have done with other national highways. So, because the traffic is less, it is not viable under MOOT. We are still on the job and the next round of meetings will be held soon.

EP What happens is that talk takes place, the bye – pass has been a story for so long under your able leadership can you promise the people that it will be done?

V.P I hope that it will be done. It is not because of my able leadership. It has been there for a long time and it coincides with my tenure so I hope that it should be done. I don’t take credit .

EP On the ignorance of people, your ministry has been holding seminars. Is this one concrete step that you have taken on the ground level in Cherrapunjee?

V.P I met Dr. Swaminathan after this he wrote a letter to me about Cherrapunji. He gave a lecture, he knows more than us. So soon, there will be a meeting in which I will be the Chairman. There also we will talk about Cherrapunji. I am also taking this very seriously because we should do something not only for our state but also for other states as there are a lot of problems all around.