BARIPADA: Magsaysay award winner Rajendra Singh Rana, also known as the Waterman of India, will launch a mass movement against river-linking projects in the State on Tuesday at Rangmatia village under Rasgovindpur block in Mayurbhanj district.

The movement will apprise the locals on environmental impact of the proposed project to link Subarnarekha and Jambhira rivers to facilitate a multi-crore irrigation project.  “Rangmatia was the chosen venue because of its proximity to both the rivers,” said noted Gandhian Aditya Patnaik.

Rana’s previous visit to the State was in March 2003 when he staged a 10-day protest against privatisation of water at Bhukta village in Bargarh district.