New Delhi, March 8: Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat Thursday said sharing of water by states was a complex issue for which there should be an idea of surplus and deficit basins.
"Studies and feasibility reports are needed for this," Rawat told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
Intervening during the debate, Janata Dal-Secular MP and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda said: "Water should be declared a national wealth by amending the constitution. Otherwise states are not going to agree (to share water). It should be brought to the concurrent list."
Rawat said his ministry was in the process of constituting a high-powered committee on inter-linking of rivers as per the direction of the Supreme Court. For that purpose, nomination from the states involved in the inter-linking of rivers have been called for as per the direction of the supreme court.
Out of the 20 states involved, response of 8 states have been received, he said.
