Inter-linking of rivers

Just wondering what has happened to inter-linking of river project...

Date of Publication April 24, 2006 Mid Day

After 3000 kilometers of walking, Bangalore bank manager should be a tired man. But Devaraj, 50, after seven months of walking for the cause of inter-linking of rivers is a contented and happy man.
He wants to rest only after meeting the President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "I have walked from Kanyakumari to New Delhi to spread the message of importance of inter-linking of river. I am glad that people have given me such tremendous response. Now I want to meet the President and PM," Devaraja said in New Delhi after meeting Sena leader Suresh Prabhu.
Having already given his memorandum to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Opposition leader L K Advani, Devaraja now hopes to meet Kalam and submit a memorandum giving the response of around 650 schools and colleges including public meetings.
The State Bank of Mysore manager, Devaraja started his ‘padayatra’ on January 12 and reached New Delhi on the eve of Independence day.
Devaraja was joined by Narsimha Setty and Anand in Bangalore but from Kanyakumari he started alone. "All along, people would join me for short duration, but these two have been with me from Bangalore. It has given me a lot of strength," he added.
Devaraja’s is anxiously waiting to see his wife Malathi and son Pritam Dev who is studying to be a doctor. But family reunion has wait till he gets appointment from the PM and even former PM A B Vajpayee.
Covering nine states and 38 districts, Devaraja is filled with emotions when you talk about his experience about the hospitality of the people. "I got rejected also by a few people but most of the people welcomed me with open heart. And most important is that people listened to me," Devaraja said.
Recalling his experience in MP when he was crossing a CRPF unit, Deveraja said he felting talking to the jawans. "I wanted to go in and the sentry told me to stand away. I stood for 10 minutes, he kept looking at me. Then he called us near. Then, he inspected my bag."
The CRPF sentry then sent Deveraja’s pamphlet to his senior officer, who got so impressed that the whole day the dreamer and zealous bank manager was let off.
Spending nearly Rs 50,000, Deveraja has been on leave from SBM. "For the cause of Inter-linking of rivers, I had to do it," he said with emotive eyes.
Braving rain, heat and dust, on an average, Deveraja walked around 15-20 kilometer, seeing the good and tired side of life. Each day, Devaraja would start around 4 am and then would camp by 10-11 am at any village or town. "Then I would rest and recoup and start meeting people of the locality."
Food and shelter were not a problem. "That was not a concern but people were nice."