New Delhi, Jul 15 (IANS): Amid the intensifying water crisis in the country, MPs in the Rajya Sabha during "zero hour" on Monday raised the issue of inter-linking of rivers to deal with the disparities in availability of water.

BJP MP Satyanarayan Jatiya and AIADMK member A.K. Selvaraj suggested taking up the issue of linking small rivers with major rivers on priority to address the problem of persistent floods in one area and drought in another. With more regions witnessing a steep fall in underground water, the situation has turned alarming.

BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav spoke about the poor quality of water in many districts in Uttar Pradesh and the health risks it posed due to its high nitrate, iron and fluoride content.

According top priority to the issue, the NDA government has launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan to stimulate rainwater harvesting and water conservation efforts in 255 water-stressed districts of the country.

The programme will cover 313 blocks with critical groundwater levels, 1,186 blocks with over-exploited groundwater and 94 blocks with low groundwater availability.

Among other issues of public interest, the MPs raised the problem of high airfare on the Kerala-Gulf sector, rising bus accidents on Yamuna Expressway and illegal coal mining.