New Delhi: Union Agriculture Ministry will press for a comprehensive new National Water Policy for creation of a grid system for major rivers to tackle frequent drought and floods in the country.

"Since inter-linking of rivers will need states' consent, I will raise the issue at the forthcoming meeting of the National Development Council scheduled next month," Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh said.

Asserting that there can be no lasting solution to problems of drought and floods without having a grid system linking all major rivers, Singh said the "garland canal" mooted by renowned technocrat K L Rao should be examined thoroughly.

Apart from linking rivers, it is equally important to lay emphasis on traditional methods of water conservation as no amount of irrigation system involving canals and reservoirs can substitute rainwater. "We have to conserve water as monsoon rains take place only for a few months," he said.

He lamented that 12 years of good monsoon rains appear to have made state governments complacent as almost half of the tubewells and bore wells in some states are now lying defunct due to lack of proper maintenance.

PTI