The correct answer is (a) Dr. K.L. Rao.
Dr. K.L. Rao was an Indian civil engineer and politician who served as the Minister of Irrigation and Power in the Government of India from 1966 to 1977. He is best known for his proposal to link Indian rivers by constructing a chain of canals. The scheme, which was first proposed in 1954, was intended to improve irrigation and water supply in India, as well as to generate hydroelectric power.
Capt. Dean Shaw was a British engineer who served in the Indian Army. He is credited with developing the first proposal to link Indian rivers in 1854. However, his proposal was not implemented due to the high cost and technical challenges involved.
Ismael Serageldin is an Egyptian economist who served as the Vice President of the World Bank from 1992 to 2000. He is not known to have proposed any scheme to link Indian rivers.
Dr. A.N. Khosla was an Indian engineer who served as the Chairman of the Central Water Commission from 1962 to 1966. He is not known to have proposed any scheme to link Indian rivers.