Lok Sabha Question No. 1547 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-09
Subject: Inter-linking of Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: RAMEN DEKA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1547

ANSWERED ON 09.03.2017

## INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS

## 1547.      SHRI RAMEN DEKA

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

(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey on the river Brahmaputra for its potentiality of power, waterways and irrigation and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether there is any proposal for inter-linking of rivers in north eastern region of the country; and (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOMPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## ( Dr. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN )

a) Yes  Madam.  In  the  Master  Plan  of  Brahmaputra  Basin  -  Part-  1  -  Main  Stem  prepared  by Brahmaputra  Board,  the  'Hydropower',  'Irrigation'  and  'Navigation'  has  been  widely  discussed. Further,  to  increase  navigability  of  the  Brahmaputra  and  reduce  flood  and  erosion,  the  concept  of Dredging of Brahmaputra and Construction of "Brahmaputra Express Highway" on both banks have been initiated by the Govt. of Assam and the Preliminary Survey for the said purposes has been started from 24th January,2017.

Regarding potentiality of Power, as per reassessment studies of hydro-electric potential carried out  by  the  Central  Electricity  Authority  during  1978-87,  the  hydro  power  potential  of  Brahmaputra Basin in terms of Installed Capacity (IC) is estimated at 66065 MW out of which 65400 MW of the potential consists of hydroelectric schemes having I.C. above 25 MW.

Regarding  potentiality  of  Waterways,  Inland  Waterways  Authority  of  India  (IWAI)  declared River  Brahmaputra  in  Assam  as  National  Waterway  -2  in  1988.IWAI  undertakes  various  river conservancy  works  including  hydrographic  surveys  in  order  to  maintain  the  targeted  depth,  provide navigational aids and terminal facilities with cargo handling infrastructure to facilitate IWT. 20 rivers in the North Eastern region have been declared as national waterways.  List is at Annex - A .    Many of these rivers are proposed to be developed as feeder waterways to the NW -2, Brahmaputra.

Regarding potentiality of irrigation,no flow irrigation scheme on the main stem of the river in the valley  itself  would  appear  economically  feasible.  Water  can,  however,  be  lifted  from  the  river  to irrigate some riparian lands. As the river bank line is unstable due to erosion, there are only a few nodal sites available for fixed pumping stations. Elsewhere, water can be lifted by mobile barge - mounted pumps which can operate along the bank from  position  to  position.   These  can   irrigate  flood   free

riparian areas on either side of the flood embankment and even the flood prone areas between the river bank  and  embankment  in  post  -  monsoon  period.  In  the  Master  Plan  of  Brahmaputra  the  ultimate irrigation potential from surface water in Assam has been assessed at 19,70,000 ha. and groundwater is estimated at 7,00,000 ha.

(b)  &  c)  In  the  north  eastern  region,  Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga  (MSTG) link  has  been  proposed under the Himalayan Component of National Perspective Plan (NPP)  for Inter Basin Water Transfer envisaging  diversion  of  about  43,000  MCM  of  the  surplus  waters  of  Manas  and  Sankosh  rivers (Brahmaputra basin) with supplementation from the intermediate major streams namely Aie, Raidak, Torsa and Jaldhaka for the benefit of augmenting the flows of Ganga at Farakka and further transfer of 13,965  MCM  to  water  short  areas  of  Krishna,  Pennar,  Cauvery,  Vaigai  and  Gundar  basins  and providing irrigation facilities to the enroute command areas including the Teesta basin for meeting the requirements of North Bengal.

Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of this link has been prepared in 1996. As per the PFR, this link comprises of two dams one each on rivers Manas and Sankosh inside Bhutan territory, and a gravity flow canal for diverting substantial quantum of water to river Ganga upstream of Farakka barrage. The link  canal  will  provide  navigation  benefit  between  Manas  and  Mahananda  barrage.  This  link  canal envisages to provide assured irrigation facilities to culturable command area of about 6.54 lakh ha. in the  States  of  Assam,  West  Bengal  and  Bihar  utilizing  4,027  MCM  of  water.  For  preparation  of feasibility report, Survey and Investigation work of Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga link for forest free alignment has been completed.

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## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 1547 for answer on 09.03.2017 regarding 'Inter Linking of Rivers'

## ANNEXURE- A

## LIST OF NATIONAL WATERWAYS IN NORTH EAST

|   Sl. No. |   NWs No. | Name of National Waterways   |   Length | State              | Route / O.D                                                                                                          |
|-----------|-----------|------------------------------|----------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 |         2 | Brahmaputra                  |      891 | Assam              | From Sadiya to Dhubri                                                                                                |
|         2 |         6 | Aai                          |       71 | Assam              | From upstream of Bridge at Adalguri to confluence with Brahmaputra                                                   |
|         3 |        16 | Barak                        |      121 | Assam              | Lakhipur Ferry Ghat to Tuker Gram                                                                                    |
|         4 |        18 | Beki                         |       73 | Assam              | Elenagamari to Brahmaputra confluence                                                                                |
|         5 |        30 | Dehing                       |      114 | Assam              | Rail Bridge at Merbil Majuli to confluence of Dehing and Brahmaputra rivers near village Lachan                      |
|         6 |        31 | Dhansiri/ Chathe             |      110 | Assam              | From Bridge near Morongi T.E. village to Numaligarh                                                                  |
|         7 |        32 | Dikhu                        |       63 | Assam              | From Bridge at Nazira on State Highway -1 to confluence of Dikhu and Brahmaputra rivers                              |
|         8 |        33 | Doyans                       |       61 | Assam              | From bridge near Sialmari to confluence of Doyans and Subansiri rivers                                               |
|         9 |        38 | Gangadhar                    |       62 | Assam& West Bengal | From Pakriguri Bridge on National Highway- 31C to Bangladesh Border at Binnachara Point III                          |
|        10 |        39 | Ganol River                  |       49 | Meghalaya          | From Bangladesh Border at Mankachar to bridge near Dolbari                                                           |
|        11 |        50 | Jinjiram River               |       43 | Meghalaya &Assam   | From confluence with Brahmaputra river at Tumni to Fulerchar Point III at Brahmaputra river                          |
|        12 |        57 | Kopili River                 |       46 | Assam              | From Bridge at BanthaiGaonTinali Bus stop to confluence with Brahmaputra river at Chandrapur                         |
|        13 |        61 | Kynshi River                 |       28 | Meghalaya          | From Bangladesh border near Mawpyllum to bridge on Nonghyllam- Maweit road                                           |
|        14 |        62 | Lohit                        |      100 | Assam              | From ParasuramKund to SaikhowaGhat, Sadiya                                                                           |
|        15 |        82 | Puthimari                    |       72 | Assam              | From Bridge on National Highway -31 near village Ghopla to confluence with Brahmaputra river near Bamunbori          |
|        16 |        93 | Simsang River                |       62 | Meghalaya          | From Bangladesh Border to bridge on National Highway -62 near Nongalbibra                                            |
|        17 |        95 | Subansiri                    |      111 | Assam              | From Gerukamukh to Brahmaputra confluence                                                                            |
|        18 |       101 | Tizu and Zungki Rivers       |       42 | Nagaland           | From Longmatra to Avanghku at Myanmar border and in Zungki river from bridge to confluence of Zungki and Tizu rivers |
|        19 |       102 | Tlawng (Dhaleswari)          |       86 | Mizoram            | From Khamrang near National Highway - 54 to Bridge on National Highway-154 at Gharmura                               |
|        20 |       106 | Umngot (Dawki) River         |       20 | Meghalaya          | From Bangladesh Border near Larbamon to Nongryngkoh                                                                  |

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