Dhaka: Bangladesh has said that it would prevent India from implementing a plan to inter-link its river basins (with Bangladesh), as it would affect the lives of people living in the lower stretches of Bangladesh.

"We will lodge a protest with New Delhi against its proposed plan," the 'Daily Times' quoted Bangladesh Water Resources Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed as saying.

He said the plan would "affect the livelihood and environment of lower riparian Bangladesh".

Ahmed claimed that the international law does not allow India to undertake any such project. "We will also ask donors not to fund New Delhi to inter-link its river systems," he added.

In Bangladesh, it is widely believed that the Indian plan to inter-link its river basins, particularly the withdrawal of water from the Brahmaputra, would severely endanger Bangladesh.

Many environment groups have called for a massive campaign against the project "since it was also likely to cause an adverse impact in vast areas of India".

ANI