INTERLINKING RIVERS

THE CONTEXT: The MEGA River interlinking projects were conceptualized in the 1980s under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) to address India’s growing water stress. The first project under this initiative, the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP), was inaugurated on December 25, 2024, marking a significant milestone in India’s water resource management. India faces a dual challenge of water surplus in some regions (leading to floods) and acute scarcity in others (causing droughts).

THE BACKGROUND: The National Water Development Agency (NWDA), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, has been entrusted with implementing the ambitious National Perspective Plan (NPP) for interlinking rivers, formulated in 1980.

KEY FEATURES OF THE NPP:

Himalayan Rivers Development Component: This component focuses on 14 links involving storage reservoirs on rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra and their tributaries. It aims to transfer surplus flows from the eastern tributaries of the Ganga to western regions. Benefits include flood control in the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin and drought mitigation in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat.

Peninsular Rivers Development Component: Encompasses 16 links connecting rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery.

Divided into four sub-components:

• • Linking Mahanadi-Godavari-Krishna-Cauvery River systems.
  • Interlinking west-flowing rivers south of Tapi.
  • Linking Ken-Chambal rivers.
  • Connecting some west-flowing rivers to east-flowing ones.

Scale of the Project: It envisages linking 60+ rivers, creating a vast network of 3,000 reservoirs and canals spanning over 15,000 km. The proposed budget is $168 billion (₹8.5 lakh crore), with potential escalation to ₹21.9 lakh crore due to inflation and scope changes.

PRIORITY PROJECTS

• • Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) – The first project is being implemented.
  • Godavari-Cauvery link – Largest among the priority projects (45% of the cumulative cost).
  • Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link.
  • Kosi-Mechi link – Smallest among priority projects.

KEY FEATURES OF THE KEN-BETWA LINK PROJECT:

Project Overview: This project transfers water from the Ken River (Madhya Pradesh) to the Betwa River (Uttar Pradesh), both tributaries of the Yamuna. Infrastructure includes a 221-km canal, a 2-km tunnel, and key structures like the Daudhan Dam. It envisages Irrigation for 10.62 lakh hectares (8.11 lakh ha in MP and 2.51 lakh ha in UP). The project is expected to alleviate water scarcity in districts like Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur (MP), and Jhansi, Banda, and Mahoba (UP), boosting agriculture and rural livelihoods.

• • Phase I: Construction of Daudhan Dam and associated infrastructure.
  • Phase II: Development of Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project, and Kotha Barrage.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE:

• • China’s South-North Water Transfer Project: The largest river interlinking project in the world, designed to transfer 44.8 billion cubic meters of water annually from China’s water-rich south to its arid north. It has displaced over 300,000 people and caused significant ecological damage, including altered river ecosystems.
  • Australia’s Snowy River Scheme: Diverts water from the Snowy River Basin to the Murray-Darling Basin for irrigation and hydropower generation. Reduced water flow in the Snowy River has led to ecological degradation and loss of biodiversity.
  • Colorado River Management (USA): Extensive damming and diversion for irrigation, urban use, and hydropower across seven U.S. states and Mexico. Over-extraction has caused severe ecological damage, including the drying up of the Colorado River Delta.

THE ISSUES:

• • Ecological Destruction and Biodiversity Loss: Projects like the Ken-Betwa Link are expected to submerge 9,000 hectares, including parts of the Panna Tiger Reserve, threatening critical habitats for species like tigers and gharials. Alteration of river flow patterns may affect fish migration, sediment transport, and freshwater ecosystems. Inter-basin water transfers may facilitate the spread of invasive aquatic species, disrupting local biodiversity.
  • Hydrological Impacts: Large-scale diversions can reduce downstream flow, impacting wetlands, estuaries, and marine ecosystems. Reduced sediment transport can lead to coastal erosion and salinity ingress in deltas (e.g., Sundarbans). Increased irrigation and altered land use could exacerbate hydrological extremes such as floods and droughts, as highlighted by the IPCC’s AR6 report.
  • Land-Atmosphere Feedback Disruption: Studies by IIT Bombay reveal that river interlinking projects alter land-atmosphere feedback mechanisms. Increased irrigation leads to higher evapotranspiration, which can change rainfall patterns. Rainfall in September may decrease by up to 12% in arid regions like Rajasthan. Rainfall may increase by up to 10% in surplus basins like the Ganga and Godavari.
  • Impact on Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM): River basins are interconnected through atmospheric pathways. Perturbations caused by inter-basin transfers can impact monsoon rainfall distribution. Reduced post-monsoon precipitation could dry rivers, rendering interlinking projects ineffective.
  • Delays in Execution: The ILR program spans decades; for instance, the Ken-Betwa Link Project has been under planning since 2005 but is expected to be completed only by 2032. Complexities in land acquisition, environmental clearances, and inter-state disputes contribute to delays. Initial estimates for all 30 ILR projects were ₹8.5 lakh crore (2024 prices), but inflation and scope changes could escalate costs to ₹21.9 lakh crore.
  • Social Challenges: Ken-Betwa will displace over 5,000 families in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district. The loss of agricultural land and forest-based livelihoods disproportionately affects marginalized communities. Rivers hold cultural significance, altering their flow impacts rituals, traditions, and sacred sites.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• • Comprehensive Planning and Execution: Prioritize projects based on feasibility, environmental sensitivity, and socio-economic benefits. Focus on Peninsular links like Godavari-Cauvery due to fewer geopolitical challenges than Himalayan links.
  • Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms: Establish River Basin Authorities under Article 262 of the Constitution to resolve inter-state disputes and ensure coordinated water management. Empower the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) with greater financial and technical autonomy.
  • Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Strengthen inter-state water-sharing agreements through cooperative frameworks like the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act of 1956. Promote dialogue between riparian states to address competing demands (e.g., Uttar Pradesh’s demand for pre-monsoon water in KBLP).
  • Decentralized Water Management: Promote rainwater harvesting at household and community levels through incentives under schemes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan. Strengthen watershed development programs in drought-prone regions like Bundelkhand.
  • Smart Irrigation Systems: Promote technologies like IoT-enabled precision farming platforms (e.g., Indian startup Samhitha) to optimize water use in agriculture. Encourage the adoption of micro-irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler systems to reduce wastage.

THE CONCLUSION:

While promising to address India’s water security, the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) program must prioritize sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation, leveraging scientific research and community participation to balance development with environmental and social equity. By integrating affordable technologies, robust governance, and adaptive planning, India can achieve climate-resilient water management, ensuring long-term prosperity for its people and ecosystems.

UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTIONS:

Q.1 How far do you agree that the behavior of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscapes? Discuss. 2015

Q.2 Rehabilitation of human settlements is one of the important environmental impacts which always attracts controversy while planning major projects. Discuss the measures suggested for mitigation of this impact while proposing major developmental projects. 2016

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q.1 Interlinking of rivers has its pros and cons. Evaluate the economic, political, and environmental implications of river interlinking projects at a centralized national level.

SOURCE:

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/editorials/interlinking-rivers/