310 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
financial, would be necessary. Till then the Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission propose to carry on preliminary reconnaissance with the help of the recently created Orissa Rivers Division of the Provincial Government. It was agreed that the C. P. Government and the Eastern States would supply the Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission with all such data and information as they already possessed and would cooperate fully with them in order to explore the possibilities of the Mahanadi river.
Mr. GOKHALE’S SPEECH
Mr. B. K. Gokhale, Adviser to H. E. the Governor of Orissa, welcoming the plan outlined by Dr. Ambedkar, said : “Orissa is perhaps the most backward part of India and no single project is likely to do more to improve the conditions of the people than the multipurpose development which we have under contemplation”. He outlined the history of Orissa up to modern times, and said that Orissa expected that the thought which had been given to planning and regional development would start her on an era of happiness and prosperity.
POST-WAR IRRIGATION AND HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEMES
“There is no doubt whatever about India’s lead to the world in irrigation. Nor of its vital importance to India; with our rapidly increasing population we must irrigate to live”, said H. E. the Viceroy opening the 16th annual meeting of the Central Board of Irrigation held on November 26 in the Council Room of the Viceroy’s House, New Delhi. Besides the experts of the Government of India and the Chief Engineers of Provinces and States, the Hon’ble Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Member for Labour, and the Hon’ble Mr. H. C. Prior, Secretary, Labour Department, attended.
- Indian Information, December 15, 1945, p. 697.