Lok Sabha Question No. 215 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-02
Subject: Inter-linking of Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: BHOLA SINGH, SONA RAM CHOUDHARY, HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE, SAUGATA ROY, GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 215

ANSWERED ON 02.02.2017

## INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS

## 215. DR. BHOLA SINGH SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA

COL. SONARAM CHOUDHARY PROF. SAUGATA ROY

## Will  the  Minister  of  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND  GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a)  the  current  status  of  inter-linking  of  rivers  under  the  National  Perspective  Plan  of  the Government, river/State-wise, along with the expenditure estimated to be incurred in linking of each river including the details of committees constituted for the purpose with their findings and reports;

(b) whether any suggestions/requests/ objections have been received from certain States in this regard and if so, the details thereof including the action taken thereon;

(c) the quantum of funds allocated/ released/spent, if any, for the purpose so far, State/UT-wise;

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  or  plans  to  conduct  any  social  impact  and environmental assessment of the effect on the livelihood of the people living in those areas and likely to be affected due to the project, if so, the details thereof; and

(e)  the  time  by  which  each  river  linking  is  likely  to  be  implemented/started/  completed  along with the benefits likely to accrue therefrom?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

## (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b) Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for water resources development through inter basin transfer of water prepared by this Ministry, NWDA has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs). After survey and investigations, FRs of 14 links under Peninsular Component and 2 links in the Himalayan component have been prepared. Present status of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links,  the  States  involved,  name  of  rivers  and  status  of  Feasibility  Reports/Detailed  Project Report is given at Annexure - I.

Based  on  the  concurrence  of  concerned  states  four  priority  links  for  preparation  of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been identified viz; Ken-Betwa link project Phase-I & II, Damanganga-Pinjal  link,  Par-Tapi-Narmada  link  and  Mahanadi-Godavari  link.  The  DPRs  of Ken-Betwa  Phase  I  &  II,  Daman-Ganga-Pinjal,  Par-Tapi-Narmada  have  been  prepared  and shared with the respective States. The DPR of Ken-Betwa link project Phase-I has been accepted

by the Advisory Committee of MoWR, RD & GR and its statutory clearances are at an advanced stage.  The  Techno-economic  clearance  of  the  DPR  of  Ken-Betwa  Link  Phase-I  has  been accorded in July, 2016 subject to environment, wildlife and forest clearances from MoEF & CC and clearance from Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA). MoTA has accorded tribal clearance on 04.01.2017.  Further,  Finance  Ministry  has  been  requested  on  10.12.2016  to  consider  funding pattern of 90% by the Central Government and 10% by the State Governments. The Ken-Betwa link project was declared as National Project in 2008. The project will benefit the drought prone areas of Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The  initial  cost  of  the  Interlinking  projects  as  estimated  in  preliminary  studies  at  Prefeasibility/Feasibility stage is Rs. 5.60 lakh crore at 2002 price level. The total expenditure likely to be incurred on ILR can only be known after completion of all individual DPRs.  As per DPR, the estimated cost of Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-I and Phase-II is about Rs. 18057.08 crores (2015-16  price  level)  and  about  Rs.2282.94  crores  (2012-13  price  level)  respectively.  The estimated cost of Damanganga-Pinjal link Project is about Rs. 3008 crores (2015-16 price level). The estimated cost of Par - Tapi - Narmada link project is Rs. 9279 Crore (at 2014-15 price level).

The details of objections raised by concerned State Governments for taking up FR/DPR of proposed ILR projects are given at Annexure-II .

In order to speed up the implementation of ILR Programme and to arrive at a consensus on the link proposals between the States, a 'Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers', has been constituted by this Ministry in September, 2014. Eleven meetings of the Special Committee for ILR have been held so far, wherein State Irrigation/ Water Resources Ministers along with the Secretaries of various States attended the meetings. Further, in order to address various issues concerning the ILR Programme and to arrive at a consensus between the States, a 'Task Force and various Sub- Committees for Interlinking of Rivers' have also been constituted.

(c) The implementation of any interlinking project is yet to be taken up. As such no project is in progress or complete. Thus no amount has been allocated/released/spent on the project so far for any ILR project.

(d) At the time of preparation of DPR  of  the  individual river link projects, detailed Environmental  Impact  Assessment  (EIA)  studies  as  per  Terms  of  Reference  approved  by Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests &CC are  carried  out.  All  environmental  impacts  and  issues  arising  out  of  the  EIA  studies  are  duly addressed in Environmental Management Plan which forms a part of DPR.

Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) Plan in respect of project affected persons is an integral part of the implementation of any ILR project and is included in the DPR.

(e) The implementation of the ILR program is dependent upon the consensus and co-operation of the concerned States. The target time for the completion of any project will depend upon the time required for the completion of the project as per DPR.

The  implementation  of  NPP  for  Water  Resources  Development  would  create  an additional  irrigation  potential  of  approximately  35  million  hectare  and  generate  about  34000 mega  watts  (MW)  hydro  power,  apart  from  the  incidental  benefits  of  flood  moderation, navigation, drinking and industrial water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc.

*****

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  &  (b)  of  Unstarred  Question  No.  215  to  be answered in Lok Sabha on 02.02.2017 regarding Inter-linking of Rivers.

## Present Status Of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links

| Sl. No               | Name                                                   | Rivers                       | States concerned                                                                                   | Status                        |
|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Peninsular Component | Peninsular Component                                   |                              |                                                                                                    |                               |
| 1                    | Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link   | Mahanadi & Godavari          | Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh                                      | FR Completed                  |
| 2                    | Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Pulichintala) link   | Godavari & Krishna           | -do-                                                                                               | FR Completed                  |
| 3                    | Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link | Godavari & Krishna           | Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Chattisgarh,                      | FR Completed                  |
| 4                    | Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada) link       | Godavari & Krishna           | Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh                                      | FR Completed                  |
| 5                    | Krishna (Almatti) - Pennar link                        | Krishna & Pennar             | -do-                                                                                               | FR Completed                  |
| 6                    | Krishna (Srisailam) - Pennar link                      | Krishna & Pennar             | -do-                                                                                               | FR Completed                  |
| 7                    | Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila ) link     | Krishna & Pennar             | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka,                                                           | FR Completed                  |
| 8                    | Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link        | Pennar & Cauvery             | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry                                         | FR Completed                  |
| 9                    | Cauvery (Kattalai) - Vaigai -Gundar link               | Cauvery, Vaigai & Gundar     | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry                                                         | FR Completed                  |
| 10                   | Ken-Betwa link                                         | Ken & Betwa                  | Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh                                                                     | FR & DPR (Ph- I&II) Completed |
| 11                   | Parbati -Kalisindh- Chambal link                       | Parbati, Kalisindh & Chambal | Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh (UP requested to be consulted during consensus building) | FR Completed                  |
| 12                   | Par-Tapi-Narmada link                                  | Par, Tapi & Narmada          | Maharashtra & Gujarat                                                                              | FR & DPR Completed            |
| 13                   | Damanganga - Pinjal link                               | Damanganga & Pinjal          | Maharashtra & Gujarat                                                                              | FR & DPR Completed.           |
| 14                   | Bedti - Varda link                                     | Bedti & Varda                | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka                                                            | PFR Completed                 |
| 15                   | Netravati - Hemavati link                              | Netravati & Hemavati         | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala                                                                     | PFR Completed                 |
| 16                   | Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link                      | Pamba, Achankovil & Vaippar  | Kerala & Tamil Nadu,                                                                               | FR Completed                  |

| Sl. No              | Name                                                   | Rivers                        | States concerned                                              | Status                                 |
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Himalayan Component | Himalayan Component                                    | Himalayan Component           | Himalayan Component                                           | Himalayan Component                    |
| 1.                  | Manas-Sankosh-Tista- Ganga (M-S-T-G) link              | Manas- Sankosh- Tista-Ganga   | Assam, West Bengal, Bihar& Bhutan                             | PFR Completed                          |
| 2.                  | Kosi-Ghaghra link                                      | Kosi & Ghaghra                | Bihar , Uttar Pradesh & Nepal                                 | PFR Completed                          |
| 3.                  | Gandak-Ganga link                                      | Gandak & Ganga                | -do-                                                          | Draft FR completed (Indian portion)    |
| 4.                  | Ghaghra-Yamuna link                                    | Ghaghra & Yamuna              | -do-                                                          | FR completed (Indian portion)          |
| 5.                  | Sarda-Yamuna link                                      | Sarda & Yamuna                | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand & Nepal | FR completed (Indian portion)          |
| 6.                  | Yamuna-Rajasthan link                                  | Yamuna & Sukri                | Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana & Rajasthan                   | Draft FR completed                     |
| 7.                  | Rajasthan-Sabarmati link                               | Sabarmati                     | -do-                                                          | Draft FR completed                     |
| 8.                  | Chunar-Sone Barrage link                               | Ganga & Sone                  | Bihar & Uttar Pradesh                                         | Draft FR completed                     |
| 9.                  | Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Ganga link          | Sone & Badua                  | Bihar & Jharkhand                                             | PFR Completed                          |
| 10.                 | Ganga(Farakka)- Damodar-Subernarekha link              | Ganga, Damodar & Subernarekha | West Bengal, Odisha & Jharkhand                               | Draft FR completed                     |
| 11.                 | Subernarekha-Mahanadi link                             | Subernarekha & Mahanadi       | West Bengal & Odisha                                          | Draft FR Completed                     |
| 12.                 | Kosi-Mechi link                                        | Kosi &Mechi                   | Bihar , West Bengal & Nepal                                   | PFR completed Entirely lies in Nepal   |
| 13.                 | Ganga (Farakka)- Sunderbans link                       | Ganga & Ichhamati             | West Bengal                                                   | Draft FR completed                     |
| 14.                 | Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link (Alternative to M-S-T- G) | Manas, Tista & Ganga          | -do-                                                          | (Alternative to M- S-T-G Link) dropped |

- PFR- Pre-Feasibility Report
- FR- Feasibility Report;
- DPR- Detailed Project Report

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  &  (b)  of  Unstarred  Question  No.  215  to  be answered in Lok Sabha on 02.02.2017 regarding Inter-linking of Rivers.

## Link wise Details of objections raised by various State Governments

|   S.No. | Name of Link Project                          | Concerned States                                                  | Views/Observations                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link             | Tamil Nadu & Kerala                                               | Kerala Assembly has passed a resolution against taking up of the Link Project (2003)                                                                                                                           |
|       2 | Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link            | Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan                                        | Government of MP has prepared and submitted the DPRs of Mohanpura Multipurpose Project and Kundaliya dam as a major intra-State link project (important components of Parbati-Kalisindh- Chambal link) to CWC. |
|       3 | Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari link         | Odisha, Maharashtra, AP, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh,                | Govt. of Odisha is not agreeable to this link Project due to large submergence of Manibhadra dam/reservoir and to the water balance and quantum of water to be diverted.                                       |
|       4 | Godavari (Inchampalli) -Krishna link Projects | Odisha, Maharashtra, MP, AP, Telangana, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh, | Govt. of Telangana is not agreeable to the water balance at Inchampalli dam site in Godavari basin.                                                                                                            |
|       5 | Netravati - Hemavati link                     | Karnataka, TamilNadu & Kerala                                     | Govt. of Karnataka intends to utilize Netravati water as per its own plan.                                                                                                                                     |