Thursday, Jan 01, 2004 BANGALORE DEC. 31. Samagra Vikas, an organisation working in the field of environment and development, has organised a national seminar on "Linking of rivers: Prospects and implications" here on January 4, 2004. Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Y.B. Ramakrishna, President, Samagra Vikas, said the seminar, to be held at Kannada Bhavan, would have five sessions. Sri Gangadharendra Saraswathi Mahaswamiji of Swarnavalli Mahasamsthana, Sonda, would inaugurate the seminar which would be attended by 150 people from related fields. P.P. Majumdar, Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science and a member of the Core Committee of the Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers, would deliver a talk on "Interlinking of rivers: Proposals and realities". Anupam Mishra, Secretary, Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi, would present a paper on "Interlinking of Rivers: A Social perspective", he said. While K.N. Govindacharya, social and political activist, would speak on "Interlinking of rivers: Opportunities and challenges", Keshava Hegde Korse of the Department of Pharmacognacy, S.D.M. College, Ujire, would present a paper on "A case study of linking of Bedthi and Varda rivers". Mr. Ramakrishna said the seminar would conclude with a panel discussion on "Diversion of west-flowing Netravathi river waters to North and East: Is it viable?" Ananth Hegde Ashisara, environmental activist and convener of the Save the Western Ghats Movement, briefed presspersons about the initiatives being taken by environmental groups to educate people about what he said would be the disastrous effects of linking the Bedthi and the Varda. Mr. Hegde said various organisations from across the State such as the Nagarika Seva Trust, Guruvayanakere; Vrikshalaksha Andolan; the Seva Sagar Trust, Sagar; Bedthi-Aghinashini Kolla Samrakshana Samithi; Uttara Kannada Zilla Parisara Samrakshana Samiti; and Avinasha, Shimoga; would be participating in the seminar.