Interlinking of Rivers

Students, let’s begin with a simple thought.
India has too much water in some regions, and too little in others.
The eastern rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra flood every year, while western and southern states — Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu — face recurring droughts.

The idea behind interlinking rivers is to redistribute nature’s bounty —
to carry surplus water from flood-prone basins to drought-prone basins,
creating a hydrological balance across the country.

💧Concept of River Linking

Definition:
Interlinking of rivers involves connecting two or more rivers through a network of reservoirs, canals, and storage structures, so that water can be transferred from surplus regions to deficient regions.

Objective:
To ensure equitable distribution of water resources for irrigation, drinking water, hydropower, and navigation — thereby promoting national integration through shared water security.

🧩 Historical Background

The idea isn’t new.
It was first proposed as early as 1919 by Sir Arthur Cotton, the Chief Engineer of the Madras Presidency.
He visualized connecting the Godavari–Krishna–Cauvery systems to irrigate southern India.
What was a dream during the British era became a national debate in post-independent India.

Significance of Interlinking Rivers

Let’s understand its importance — geographically, economically, and socially.

A. Redistributing Water Flow

Helps control floods in surplus basins like the Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna,
while ensuring irrigation and drinking water in arid regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
Ensures inter-basin equity, meaning no part of the country remains water-starved.

B. Hydropower Potential

The project can add an estimated 34,000 MW of hydropower — a major contribution to India’s renewable energy goals.
It would support industrial, agricultural, and rural electrification, particularly in interior regions.

C. Commercial and Navigational Benefits

A connected river system would create an inland waterways network, reducing dependence on road and rail transport.
This would make logistics cheaper, cleaner, and more sustainable, boosting freight movement and regional trade.

D. Sustainable Development

By storing and reusing surface water, ILR can reduce groundwater dependence — critical for India’s depleting aquifers.
It also prevents excessive freshwater from draining into the sea, conserving water for future use.

E. Social and Employment Benefits

Rural employment through large-scale construction and irrigation expansion.
Reduced drudgery for women who travel long distances for water.
Stimulates rural industries and agriculture, leading to inclusive growth.

⚠️ Challenges of Interlinking Rivers

However, as with any large-scale human intervention in nature, ILR comes with serious challenges.

A. Environmental Concerns

Massive infrastructure may cause deforestation, submergence, and loss of biodiversity.
For example, the Ken–Betwa Link Project could submerge parts of the Panna Tiger Reserve.
May lead to evaporation losses, salinity, and waterlogging in semi-arid areas.

B. Lack of Transparency and Impact Assessment

Socio-economic and ecological assessments are often incomplete or outdated.
There’s inadequate data on downstream impacts, resettlement, and ecosystem changes.

C. Climate Change Factor

Changing rainfall patterns and glacial melt make water availability uncertain.
What is “surplus” today might be “deficit” tomorrow — questioning the long-term sustainability of the project.

D. Federal and Political Issues

Water is a State subject (List II, 7th Schedule).
States may resist sharing or transferring water due to political compulsions — e.g., Kerala vs Tamil Nadu on dam releases, or Andhra vs Telangana on Krishna water.
Without state consensus, projects cannot proceed.

E. International Objections

Some proposed Himalayan links involve transboundary rivers (e.g., with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh).
Any diversion could trigger diplomatic disputes.

F. Neglect of Local Alternatives

India already has low-cost, decentralized solutions —
such as rainwater harvesting, watershed development, and efficient irrigation practices — which may achieve similar outcomes with fewer ecological costs.

🧭 National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources Development

To give shape to this idea, the Government of India formulated the National Perspective Plan (NPP) in 1980, under the then Ministry of Irrigation (now the Ministry of Jal Shakti).

It envisaged two major components:

Component	Focus
1. Himalayan Rivers Development	Storage, flood control, hydropower, and inter-basin transfer from Ganga–Brahmaputra to western rivers
2. Peninsular Rivers Development	Connecting southern rivers for irrigation and drought management

🏛️ National Water Development Agency (NWDA)

Established in 1982 as an autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Entrusted with surveying, planning, and feasibility studies for interlinking projects.
It has identified 30 potential links:
- 14 under Himalayan Component
- 16 under Peninsular Component
Implementation, however, depends on state-level consensus.

⚖️ Supreme Court’s Role

In 2002, the Supreme Court directed the Government of India to expedite the interlinking plan, highlighting its potential for flood control and drought relief.

🏢 National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA)

To modernize the process, the government proposed setting up the NIRA —
a new autonomous body to replace the NWDA.

Functions of NIRA:

Plan, finance, and execute ILR projects across the country.
Coordinate with states and neighbouring countries.
Handle environmental, wildlife, and forest clearances.
Empowered to:
- Raise funds,
- Act as a financial repository, and
- Create Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for individual link projects.

Thus, NIRA aims to be the institutional backbone of India’s river interlinking mission.

🏞️ Major River Link Projects

Let’s study three key case studies — these illustrate both the potential and the controversy of ILR.

(A) Ken–Betwa River Link Project

First project under the NPP.
Aims to transfer water from Ken River (Madhya Pradesh) to Betwa River (Uttar Pradesh).
Components:
- Phase I: Daudhan Dam
- Phase II: Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex, and Kotha Barrage.
Benefits: Irrigation, hydroelectricity, and drinking water supply.
Issues:
- Environmental impact — parts of Panna Tiger Reserve may be submerged.
- Clearance disputes — Lower Orr Dam lacked formal environment ministry approval.

(B) Godavari–Krishna Link Project

One of the most ambitious peninsular links.
Goal: Divert surplus water from Godavari (Andhra Pradesh) to Krishna River.
Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project — first successful operational link under this system.
Water is carried to Prakasam Barrage (Krishna), freeing Krishna’s water for irrigating Rayalaseema through:
- Pothireddypadu Canal, and
- Handri–Neeva Lift from Srisailam Reservoir.

This link is often cited as a working model of interlinking, within a single state’s administrative control.

(C) Ganga–Amravati Interlinking Project

Vision: Transfer water from Ganga River (Bihar) to the Amravati River (Maharashtra) to support Marathwada’s drought-prone regions.
Still in preliminary stages — undergoing feasibility and environmental impact assessments.
Expected benefits: Alleviate water scarcity and promote agricultural rejuvenation in one of India’s most water-stressed regions.