Rivers in northeastern states will be cleaned: Meghwal

Shillong, Oct 4 (IANS) Union Minister of State for River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Arjun Ram Meghwal on Wednesday said several rivers in the northeastern states will be cleaned.

"Rivers in the Northeast are also included in the list. Northeast has always been a focus area for us," he told journalists here.

"We are regularly reminding our ministers to come here and submit a report on what interventions are required for the development of the region," the minister said.

Meghwal has also promised that all pending projects to preserve Umshyrpi and Wahumkhrah rivers in Meghalaya would be cleared shortly.

The Meghalaya government had submitted a Detailed Project Report with an estimate of Rs 4,645.817 lakh under the "flood control on flash flood" plan a long time back and the project is still awaiting the nod of the Water Resources Ministry.

The Flood Management and Protection of Wahumkhrah and Umshyrpi river project was conceptualised to control frequent floods occurring in Pynthorumkhrah areas, protection of agricultural lands and to control overflowing of Wahumkhrah and Umshyrpi.

On the Citizenship Bill, Meghwal, who is also Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, said the matter was still pending with a parliamentary committee.

"The moment the committee submits its report, it will be taken up before the Cabinet where it will be decided whether the Bill should be brought to Parliament or not," he said.

The Citizenship Act, 1955, provides various ways in which citizenship may be acquired.

The amendment would allow citizenship to undocumented Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.