- Recently government defer a decision on interlinking the Ken-Betwa rivers,the first of 30 such projects.
- The idea of interlinking river projects first initiated in 1972 as a ‘garland canal’ with the Ganga-Cauvery as its central component. In 1982, NATIONAL WATER DEVELOPMENT AGENCY was set up to carry out technical studies to examine the feasibility of 30 links= 14 Himalayan + 16 peninsular.
Issues hindering the projects:
(1)practicability and necessity
(2)hydrological and technical feasibility
(3)rehabilitation and resettlement
(4)general environmental concerns
(5)cost and benefit analysis
(6)lack of clear vision from government
Benefit from the projects:
(1)transfer of water from surplus basins to deficit basins-serves two purpose-
- availability of water to drought-prone regions
- relief to areas routinely ravaged by floods
Rational approach:
(1)while environmental concerns deserve the utmost consideration, interlinking should not be served down merely because of the vague and unscientific feeling that it constitutes an interference with Mother Nature.
(2)consider projects on individual merit- factoring in the
- cost and time for implementation
- extent of land to be submerged
- logistics for resettlement
- evolving mechanism for dispute settlement between the ‘receiving’ and ‘donating’ river States.
Conclusion:
(1)concept is not new- diversion of river waters has taken place since Mesopotamian times.
(2)in India, the Periyar-Vaigai link,the Kurnool-Cuddapah canal and the Beas-Sutlej projects have all involved inter-basin transfers.
(3)abroad, Colorado-Big Thomson projects are successful .
(4)Supreme Court- in 2002 and 2012- directed the implementation of river-interlinking projects in a time-bound manner.
(5)Come again to Ken-Betwa project-
-one of priority peninsular link
-detailed project report has been completed
-tripartite memorandum has been signed between Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and the Centre.
-project has opposition from with in Union cabinet.
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