BENGALURU: The Indian central government has decided to solve the waterproblems in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan by utilising water from riversflowing into Pakistan, Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkarilink>saidhere on Saturday.

He said the government has also introduced a new scheme where water willreach farmers through innovative technology using pipe system rather thancanals, avoiding land acquisition costs to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore,Indian media has reported.

Gadkari said this in his inaugural address at an event organised by theConfederation of Indian Industry here, according to a release issued by theorganisers.

Citing the case of the Godavari, where 3000 tmc of water is flowing to thesea, Gadkari said the government is constructing adam at Polavaram inAndhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs 60,000 crore to check Indravati river flow,which is a tributary of the Godavari and flows in full spate through athick forest.

“This water can then be carried till the tail end of Tamil Nadu, almost1,300 km by pipeline. Once this project is completed, Tamil Nadu will getalmost 450 TMC of water,” he said.

Gadkari, who also holds the portfolios of road, transport and highways andshipping, said the government is very keen on developing Karwar port inKarnataka and is willing to spend Rs 3,000 crore for the projects if thestate government is in agreement.

Touching upon waterways as a cheaper logistical option, he said thegovernment is encouraging seaplanes and called on HAL to form a JointVenture with the government to manufacture them.

According to him, around 10,000 seaplanes would be required in the next twoyears.

Gadkari also emphasised the urgent need to reduce pollution and urged theautomobile industry to produce vehicles that would run on electricity andalternative fuels like ethanol and methanol, which could be produced fromagricultural waste.

“Conversion of waste into wealth is the future,” he said.

Gadkari also said the current road construction is at 28 kms a day and thetarget for next year is 40 kms per day.

He stated that the government has already signed work contracts forprojects worth Rs 8,50,000 crore for roads, ports, shipping and waterresources.

Stating that the government’s plan was to develop two lakh kilometers ofhighways, with 12 express highways, he said work on a new highway betweenBengaluru and Mysuru at a cost of Rs 7,000 crore, will commence fromSaturday.

He also said that government would start work on a ring-road for Bengaluru,which will cost around Rs 10,000 crore.