Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has said the Centre was ready to consider intra-state river-linking project on a priority basis as water security was intricately linked with full security.

Bansal said in Patna the state must prepare schemes that confirm to guidelines on delay in projects, appraisals adding that such schemes should also lay emphasis on quality and command area development.

The Minister said the Centre was ready to consider 90 per cent up-front payment for flood management. He would hold a discussion with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on flood and drought management today.