National River Linking Project aims to transfer water from water-excess basins to water-deficient basins by linking 37 rivers in India through a network of approximately 3000 storage dams, resulting in the establishment of a vast South Asian water grid.
Interlinking of Rivers – Brief Background
- The concept of connecting rivers was initially proposed by Sir Arthur Cotton, the Chief Engineer of the Madras Presidency, in 1919.
- In 1960, KL Rao, the Minister of State for Energy and Irrigation at the time, revived this idea and suggested linking the Ganga and Cauvery rivers.
- Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi established the National Water Development Agency in 1982.
- In 2002, the Supreme Court instructed the government to develop and implement a river interlinking plan by 2003, with a target to complete it by 2016. Subsequently, a task force was created for this purpose in 2003.
- In 2012, the Supreme Court once again urged the government to initiate the river interlinking project.
- In 2014, the Cabinet approved the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project. However, this project has yet to commence due to significant opposition, primarily from environmentalists, faced by the government.
What is River Interlinking (ILR)?
- The concept behind River interlinking is addressing the dual challenges faced by different parts of India, where some regions experience recurring droughts while others grapple with annual flooding.
- The Indo-Gangetic rivers remain perennial, receiving sustenance from both rainfall and Himalayan glacier meltwaters. In contrast, peninsular rivers primarily rely on the southwest monsoons, making them non-seasonal. Consequently, the Indo-Gangetic plains contend with floods, while the peninsular states confront droughts.
- The solution lies in redirecting excess water from the plains to the peninsula, potentially mitigating both flooding and drought issues. River interlinking aims to establish a more equitable distribution of India’s river waters.
National River Linking Project (NRLP)
The NRLP envisions the transfer of water from water-abundant basins to water-deficient ones by connecting 37 rivers in India through a network of approximately 3000 storage dams, forming an extensive South Asian water grid.
The project comprises two key components:
Himalayan Component
- Under the Himalayan component of the NRLP, 14 projects are in the planning stage. These projects involve the construction of storage dams on the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries. Additionally, there is a proposal to link the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. This component not only aims to control flooding in the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system but also intends to benefit drought-prone regions such as Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat. It further comprises two sub-components:
- a. Connecting the Ganga and Brahmaputra basins to the Mahanadi basin.
- b. Linking the eastern tributaries of the Ganga with the Sabarmati and Chambal river systems.
Peninsular Component
- The peninsular component of the NRLP focuses on connecting the 16 rivers of southern India. It involves transferring surplus water from the Mahanadi and Godavari rivers to the Krishna, Cauvery, Pennar, and Vaigai rivers. This component encompasses four sub-component linkages:
- a. Linking the Mahanadi and Godavari river basins to the Cauvery, Krishna, and Vaigai river systems.
- b. Connecting the Ken River to the Betwa River, and the Parbati and Kalisindh rivers to the Chambal River.
- c. Integrating west-flowing rivers south of the Tapi River with those north of Bombay.
- d. Establishing connections between west-flowing rivers and east-flowing rivers.
River interlinking holds the potential to transform India’s water management landscape, providing a sustainable solution to its drought and flood challenges.
Advantages of River Interlinking
The proposed river interlinking projects offer numerous advantages, which are detailed below:
- Mitigating Floods and Droughts: River interlinking serves as a means to transfer surplus water from regions with abundant rainfall to drought-prone areas, effectively controlling both floods and droughts.
- Addressing Water Scarcity: These projects play a crucial role in alleviating the water crisis in various parts of the country.
- Hydropower Generation: The construction of numerous dams and reservoirs as part of the project can yield an estimated 34,000 MW of electricity when fully executed.
- Dry Weather Flow Augmentation: During dry seasons, surplus water stored in reservoirs can be released, ensuring a minimum flow in rivers. This helps control pollution, aids navigation, supports forests, fisheries, wildlife protection, and more.
- Agricultural Benefits: India’s agriculture heavily relies on the monsoon, leading to uncertainties in crop yields. Improved irrigation facilities resulting from river interlinking can enhance agricultural productivity in water-deficient regions.
- Commercial Opportunities: River interlinking enhances the inland waterways transport system, providing commercial benefits. Additionally, rural areas can explore alternative income sources such as fish farming.
- Defense and Security: Augmenting the country’s waterline defense is another advantage of the project.
Challenges in River Interlinking
Despite the potential benefits, the river interlinking project faces several challenges:
- Cost and Engineering Capacity: The project’s estimated cost of Rs. 5.6 lakh crores and the requirement for significant engineering expertise pose substantial financial and manpower challenges.
- Environmental Impact: Implementing the project on such a large scale may disrupt entire ecosystems, affecting wildlife, flora, and fauna. Many national parks and sanctuaries are within the project’s scope, and mitigating environmental impact is crucial.
- Societal Impact: Building dams and reservoirs may displace numerous people, necessitating their rehabilitation and adequate compensation.
- Flood Control Doubts: Some express skepticism about the project’s ability to effectively control floods based on India’s past experiences with large dams causing flooding in certain regions.
- Interstate Disputes: Opposition to the project from several states, including Kerala, Sikkim, and Andhra Pradesh, adds to the project’s complexity.
- International Concerns: In the Himalayan component, the project’s impact on neighboring countries, particularly Bangladesh, is a factor that requires careful consideration.
The Way Forward for River Interlinking
To address these challenges, the following steps can be considered:
- Local Solutions: Emphasis should be placed on local solutions such as improved irrigation practices and watershed management.
- National Waterways Project (NWP): Exploring alternatives like the NWP, which utilizes excess floodwater without interstate disputes over river water sharing, may be a viable option.
- Case-by-Case Evaluation: The necessity and feasibility of river interlinking should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with a focus on resolving federal issues and concerns of all stakeholders.
National Waterways
- NW1, stretching from Allahabad to Haldia, covers a total distance of 1620 kilometers. It serves as a crucial waterway for tourism vessels, ODC carriers, and IWAI vessels. Along the banks of the Ganga, numerous coal-based plants are located, offering significant revenue potential for the inland navigation sector.
- NW2, spanning from Sadiya town in Assam to Dhubri at the Bangladesh border, has a length of 891 kilometers. This waterway is utilized by tourism vessels, Border Security Forces, the Assam government, and private vessels.
- The western coast features multiple canals under NW3, including the West Coast Canal (168 km), Udyogamandal Canal (23 km), and Champakara Canal (14 km). This region offers excellent navigability and has substantial tourism potential. The transportation of raw materials for fertilizer plants constitutes a significant portion of the cargo movement here.
- NW4 encompasses the Kakinada-Puducherry Canal (767 km), Godavari River (171 km), and Krishna River (157 km). This waterway facilitates the transportation of coal along the Godavari River, cement along the Krishna River, and rice and other food commodities along both rivers.
- NW5 comprises various stretches, including Mahanadi Delta (101 km), Brahmani River, and others (265 km), Matai River (40 km), and Geonkhali-Charbatia (217 km). Coal transportation plays a significant role in this waterway.
- There is a proposal to declare the Barak River from Bhanga to Lakhipur (121 km) in Assam as a National Waterway, with the government currently considering it.
- One of the major challenges faced by the government is the inadequate maintenance of the national waterways. Inland water navigation is a cost-effective mode of transportation, but it does not receive the same level of subsidies from the government, especially for transporting commodities like PDS food items.
FAQs
Q1. What is the National River Project, and what is its primary objective?
Ans. The National River Project is a government initiative aimed at rejuvenating and restoring the major rivers of a country. Its primary objective is to implement comprehensive strategies for the conservation, management, and sustainable development of rivers to ensure their long-term ecological and socio-economic well-being.
Q2. How does the National River Project contribute to environmental conservation and sustainability?
Ans. The National River Project focuses on addressing various environmental issues such as river pollution, habitat degradation, and water scarcity. Through the implementation of innovative water management techniques, pollution control measures, and sustainable development practices, it aims to improve the overall health and sustainability of the rivers and their surrounding ecosystems.
Q3. What are the key components of the National River Project implementation?
Ans. The key components of the National River Project typically involve measures for river cleaning, afforestation along riverbanks, regulation of industrial effluents, promotion of eco-friendly farming practices, and the creation of public awareness programs. It often includes collaboration between various government agencies, local communities, and environmental organizations to ensure the successful execution of its initiatives.
Q4. How does the National River Project impact the socio-economic landscape of the country?
Ans. The National River Project has a significant impact on the socio-economic landscape by fostering sustainable development and improving the livelihoods of communities dependent on the rivers. It creates employment opportunities through various conservation and restoration projects, promotes tourism and recreation activities, and ensures a continuous and clean water supply for agricultural and industrial needs, thereby contributing to the overall socio-economic development of the region.
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