Bangalore: The Centre on May 20 indicated that it would not be possible to take up the ambitious project of interlinking of rivers in the country, unless there was consensus among the states on the issue.

"Before a consensus is achieved, this super mega project cannot be taken up," Union Minister of Water Resources Arjun Charan Sethi said on the sidelines of the inauguration of an office complex of the Central Water Commission.

He said every aspect of the project would be examined and all the states consulted. "Only on their consensus on interlinking will the project be taken up.

"The Centre is very much for consensus...whatever disputes are there between the states...certainly we want these disputes to be resolved through consensus...and then we will go for implementation."

He said the task force on interlinking of rivers, headed by former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu, had already submitted a report on Phase-I of the project, while that of the Phase-II was expected to be given by July-August.

Karnataka Water Resources Minister, H K Patil, who also spoke, said finding a satisfactory solution to inter-state rivers disputes was the first positive step for evolving a consensus among states and creating a favourable mood for sharing natural resources.

PTI