Lok Sabha Question No. 258 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-08
Subject: Inter-linking of Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Pallab Lochan Das, Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel, Ratansinh Magansinh Rathod, Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria

## 258.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 258

ANSWERED ON 08.12.2022

## INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS

## SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS SHRI PATEL HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI SHRI RATANSINH MAGANSINH RATHOD SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:-

(a) whether it is a fact that the Government proposes for inter-linking of rivers in the country including Gujarat;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the initiatives taken by the Government for water conservation and restoration of traditional water sources;

(d) whether it is a fact that inter-linking of rivers helps in water conservation and restoration of water sources and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government has conducted any survey to ascertain the benefits of inter-linking of river projects for most drought affected States like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) & (b) The National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared by the then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti)  in  August  1980  for  development  of  water  resources  through  inter  basin  transfer  of  water,  for  transferring water from water-surplus basins to water-deficit basins. Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports. Details and status of the proposals for inter-linking of rivers under the Inter Linking of Rivers (ILR) Programme is furnished at Annexure-I.

(c) & (d) Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management  to  ensure  sustainability  of  water  resources  are  undertaken  by  the  respective  State  Governments. However, Government of India has taken several initiatives by way of providing technical and financial assistance to the  State  Governments  for  the  projects  planned  towards  water  conservation  and  restoration  of  traditional  water sources, through various schemes, such as Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies and Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) Schemes, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain - 2022 campaign, etc.

Under the scheme of RRR of Water Bodies, rural water bodies having minimum water spread area of 2 hectares (1 hectare  for  North  Eastern,  Sikkim  and  Hilly  States  including  UTs  of  J&K  and  Ladakh),  and  urban  water  bodies having minimum water spread area of 1 hectare (0.5 hectare for North Eastern, Sikkim and Hilly States including UTs of J&K and Ladakh) are eligible for inclusion with the objectives of restoration of water bodies for assured supply of water for irrigation, increased availability of drinking water, ground water recharge and water conservation.

Surface  Minor  Irrigation  (SMI)  scheme  targeting  to  provide  financial  assistance  to  the  identified  minor  irrigation projects (with irrigation potential less than 2,000 hectare) using surface water, have been included under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) since 1999-2000 for special category States. Subsequently, the scheme has been extended  to  areas  covering  Drought  Prone  Areas  Programme  (DPAP),  Tribal,  Desert  Development  Programme (DDP),  Flood  prone,  Left  Wing  Extremism  and  Koraput,  Bolangir  and  Kalahandi  (KBK)  region  of  Odisha, Bundelkhand region of UP and MP and Marathwada and Vidharbha regions of Maharashtra. Main objective of SMI schemes is to expand cultivable area under assured irrigation.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain - 2022 Campaign has been launched in March, 2022 in all districts of the country. The campaign, inter alia,  focuses  on  interventions  for  water  conservation and  rainwater  harvesting,  which  include making of roof-top Rain Water Harvesting Structures (RWHS) on buildings and water harvesting pits in compounds; maintenance of existing RWHS and creation of new check dams/ ponds; renovation of traditional water harvesting Structures; removal of encroachments of lakes/ tanks and in their catchment channels; desilting of tanks, spring shed development, etc.

The Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects under NPP would also help in water conservation by mitigating effects of floods and droughts.  The ILR projects would also help in recharge of ground water and tanks, etc. in the command areas, thus, leading to substantial water conservation, besides primarily providing for irrigation benefits, augmentation of drinking water supply and hydro-power generation. The implementation of ILR projects as per NPP shall help in harnessing and transfer of approximately 166 Billion Cubic Metres of water.

(e)   Detailed  survey  and  investigation  for  ILR  projects  has  been  conducted  during  preparation  of  Detailed  Project Report of Ken-Betwa Link Project and Feasibility Reports of other link projects pertaining to the States of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Three link projects under NPP viz; Yamuna-Rajasthan link, Rajasthan-Sabarmati link and Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link  will  benefit  the  State  of  Rajasthan.  As  per  the  surveys  and  Studies  done  by  NWDA,  the  benefits  and  present status of the links are furnished at Annexure-II.

Two  link  projects  under  NPP  viz;  Ken-Betwa  link  and  Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal  link  will  benefit  the  State  of Madhya Pradesh. The Ken-Betwa link is the first link under NPP for which implementation has been initiated. The benefits and present status of the links benefitting Madhya Pradesh are furnished at Annexure-III.

*****

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 258 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.12.2022 REGARDING 'INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS'.

## Details and status of the proposals for inter-linking of rivers under the Inter Linking of Rivers Programme

| S. No                | Name                                                 | Rivers                        | States concerned                                                                                      | Status                                               |
|----------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| Peninsular Component | Peninsular Component                                 | Peninsular Component          | Peninsular Component                                                                                  | Peninsular Component                                 |
| 1(a)                 | Mahanadi (Manibhadra)- Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link  | Mahanadiand Godavari          | Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka and Maharashtra | FR Completed.                                        |
| 1(b)                 | Mahanadi (Bermul)- Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link      | Mahanadi and Godavari         | do                                                                                                    | FR Completed. *                                      |
| 2                    | Godavari(Inchampall)- Krishna(Pulichintala) link     | Godavariand Krishna           | Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka            | FR Completed.                                        |
| 3                    | Godavari(Inchampalli)- Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link | Godavariand Krishna           | --do--                                                                                                | FR Completed. DPR Completed.                         |
| 4                    | Godavari(Polavaram) - Krishna(Vijayawada) link       | Godavari and Krishna          | --do--                                                                                                | FR Completed.                                        |
| 5                    | Krishna(Almatti) -Pennar link                        | Krishna and Pennar            | Telangana, Andhra Pradesh,Maharashtra and Karnataka                                                   | FR Completed.                                        |
| 6                    | Krishna (Srisailam)- Pennar link                     | Krishna and Pennar            | --do--                                                                                                | FR Completed.                                        |
| 7                    | Krishna(Nagarjunasagar) -Pennar (Somasila) link      | Krishna and Pennar            | --do--                                                                                                | FR Completed. DPR Completed.                         |
| 8                    | Pennar (Somasila)- Cauvery(Grand Anicut) link        | Pennar and Cauvery            | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry                                          | FR Completed. DPR Completed.                         |
| 9                    | Cauvery (Kattalai)- Vaigai-Gundar link               | Cauvery, Vaigai and Gundar    | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry                                                          | DPR Completed.                                       |
| 10                   | Ken-Betwa link                                       | Ken and Betwa                 | Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh                                                                      | DPR (Phase - I, II& Comprehensive report) Completed. |
| 11 (i)               | Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link                   | Parbati, Kalisindhand Chambal | Madhya Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan requested to be Consulted during consensus building)       | FR Completed.                                        |
| (ii)                 | Parbati-Kuno-Sindh link                              | Parbati, Kuno and Sindh       | Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan                                                                          | PFR completed .$                                     |
| 12                   | Par-Tapi-Narmada link                                | Par, Tapi and Narmada         | Maharashtra and Gujarat                                                                               | DPR Completed.                                       |
| 13                   | Damanganga - Pinjal link                             | Damanganga and Pinjal         | --do--                                                                                                | DPR Completed.                                       |

| 14                                                                                                    |                                                                                                       |                                                                                                       |                                                                                                       |                                                                                                       | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka PFR                                                         | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka PFR                                                         | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka PFR                                                         | Completed. Draft DPR completed                                                                        |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15                                                                                                    | Netravati - Hemavati link                                                                             | Netravati - Hemavati link                                                                             | Netravati and Hemavati                                                                                | Netravati and Hemavati                                                                                | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala                                                                      | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala                                                                      | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala                                                                      | PFR Completed.                                                                                        |
| 16                                                                                                    | Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link                                                                     | Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link                                                                     | Pamba,Achankov il and Vaippar                                                                         | Pamba,Achankov il and Vaippar                                                                         | Kerala and Tamil Nadu                                                                                 | Kerala and Tamil Nadu                                                                                 | Kerala and Tamil Nadu                                                                                 | FR Completed.                                                                                         |
| $ Integration of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan and Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link. | $ Integration of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan and Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link. | $ Integration of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan and Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link. | $ Integration of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan and Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link. | $ Integration of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan and Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link. | $ Integration of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan and Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link. | $ Integration of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan and Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link. | $ Integration of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan and Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link. | $ Integration of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan and Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link. |
|                                                                                                       |                                                                                                       |                                                                                                       |                                                                                                       | Himalayan Component                                                                                   | Himalayan Component                                                                                   | Himalayan Component                                                                                   | Himalayan Component                                                                                   | Himalayan Component                                                                                   |
| 1.                                                                                                    | 1.                                                                                                    | Manas-Sankosh-Tista- Ganga(M-S-T-G)link                                                               | Manas-Sankosh-Tista- Ganga(M-S-T-G)link                                                               | Manas, Sankosh, Tista and Ganga                                                                       | Manas, Sankosh, Tista and Ganga                                                                       | BHUTAN&INDIA (Assam,West Bengal and Bihar)                                                            | FR completed.                                                                                         | FR completed.                                                                                         |
| 2.                                                                                                    | 2.                                                                                                    | Kosi-Ghaghra link                                                                                     | Kosi-Ghaghra link                                                                                     | Kosi and Ghaghra                                                                                      | Kosi and Ghaghra                                                                                      | NEPAL&INDIA (Bihar and Uttar Pradesh)                                                                 | PFR completed                                                                                         | PFR completed                                                                                         |
| 3.                                                                                                    | 3.                                                                                                    | Gandak-Ganga link                                                                                     | Gandak-Ganga link                                                                                     | Gandak and Ganga                                                                                      | Gandak and Ganga                                                                                      | --do--                                                                                                | FR completed (Indian portion)                                                                         | FR completed (Indian portion)                                                                         |
| 4.                                                                                                    | 4.                                                                                                    | Ghaghra-Yamuna link                                                                                   | Ghaghra-Yamuna link                                                                                   | Ghaghra and Yamuna                                                                                    | Ghaghra and Yamuna                                                                                    | --do--                                                                                                | FR completed (Indian portion)                                                                         | FR completed (Indian portion)                                                                         |
| 5.                                                                                                    | 5.                                                                                                    | Sarda-Yamuna link                                                                                     | Sarda-Yamuna link                                                                                     | Sarda and Yamuna                                                                                      | Sarda and Yamuna                                                                                      | NEPAL&INDIA (Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana And Rajasthan)                                | FR completed (Indian portion)                                                                         | FR completed (Indian portion)                                                                         |
| 6.                                                                                                    | 6.                                                                                                    | Yamuna-Rajasthan link                                                                                 | Yamuna-Rajasthan link                                                                                 | Yamuna and Sukri                                                                                      | Yamuna and Sukri                                                                                      | Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and UttarPradesh                                                          | FR completed                                                                                          | FR completed                                                                                          |
| 7.                                                                                                    | 7.                                                                                                    | Rajasthan-Sabarmati link                                                                              | Rajasthan-Sabarmati link                                                                              | Sabarmati                                                                                             | Sabarmati                                                                                             | --do--                                                                                                | FR completed                                                                                          | FR completed                                                                                          |
| 8.                                                                                                    | 8.                                                                                                    | Chunar-Sone Barrage                                                                                   | Chunar-Sone Barrage                                                                                   | Ganga and Sone                                                                                        | Ganga and Sone                                                                                        | Bihar and Uttar Pradesh                                                                               | FR completed                                                                                          | FR completed                                                                                          |
| 9.                                                                                                    | 9.                                                                                                    | Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Ganga link                                                         | Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Ganga link                                                         | Sone and Badua                                                                                        | Sone and Badua                                                                                        | Bihar and Jharkhand                                                                                   | PFR completed                                                                                         | PFR completed                                                                                         |
| 10.                                                                                                   | 10.                                                                                                   | Ganga (Farakka)- Damodar-                                                                             | Ganga (Farakka)- Damodar-                                                                             | Ganga, Damodar and Subernarekha                                                                       | Ganga, Damodar and Subernarekha                                                                       | West Bengal,Odisha and Jharkhand                                                                      | FR completed                                                                                          | FR completed                                                                                          |
| 11.                                                                                                   | 11.                                                                                                   | Subernarekha link Subernarekha- Mahanadi link                                                         | Subernarekha link Subernarekha- Mahanadi link                                                         | Subernarekha and Mahanadi                                                                             | Subernarekha and Mahanadi                                                                             | West Bengal and Odisha                                                                                | FR completed                                                                                          | FR completed                                                                                          |
| 12.                                                                                                   | 12.                                                                                                   | Kosi-Mechi Link                                                                                       | Kosi-Mechi Link                                                                                       | Kosi and Mechi                                                                                        | Kosi and Mechi                                                                                        | NEPAL &INDIA (Bihar and West Bengal)                                                                  | PFR completed                                                                                         | PFR completed                                                                                         |
| 13.                                                                                                   | 13.                                                                                                   | Ganga (Farakka)- Sunderbans link                                                                      | Ganga (Farakka)- Sunderbans link                                                                      | Ganga and Ichhamati                                                                                   | Ganga and Ichhamati                                                                                   | West Bengal                                                                                           | FR completed                                                                                          | FR completed                                                                                          |
| 14.                                                                                                   | 14.                                                                                                   | Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link (Alternative to M-S- T-G)                                                | Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link (Alternative to M-S- T-G)                                                | Manas,Tista and Ganga                                                                                 | Manas,Tista and Ganga                                                                                 | Assam, Bihar and West Bengal                                                                          | PFR completed                                                                                         | PFR completed                                                                                         |

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

ANNEXURES REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 258 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.12.2022 REGARDING 'INTERLINKING OF RIVERS'.

## The benefits and present status of the links three link projects under NPP viz; YamunaRajasthan link, Rajasthan-Sabarmati link and Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link :-

|   Sl. No | Name of the link                    | States benefitted            | Annual Irrigation (Lakh ha)   | Domestic& Industrial supply (MCM)   | Present Status   |
|----------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|------------------|
|        1 | Parbati - Kalisindh- - Chambal link | Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan | *Alt.I: 2.30 Alt.II: 2.20     | - 13.2                              | FR Completed.    |
|        2 | Yamuna- Rajasthan link              | Haryana and Rajasthan        | 2.51 (0.11+ 2.40 )            | 30                                  | FR completed     |
|        3 | Rajasthan- Sabarmati link           | Rajasthan and Gujarat        | 11.53 (11.21+0.32)            | 102                                 | FR completed     |

* Alt I- Linking with Gandhisagar Dam,    Alt. II- Linking with Rana Pratapsagar Dam

ANNEXURES REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 258 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.12.2022 REGARDING 'INTERLINKING OF RIVERS'.

The benefits and present status of the links benefitting Madhya Pradesh under NPP viz; Ken-Betwa link and Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link:

|   Sl.No | Name of the link                   | States benefitted             | Annual Irrigation (Lakh ha)   |   Domestic& Industrial supply (MCM) | Present Status                              |
|---------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Parbati -Kalisindh- - Chambal link | Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan  | *Alt.I: 2.30 Alt.II: 2.20     |                                13.2 | FR Completed.                               |
|       2 | Ken-Betwa link                     | Uttar Pradesh &Madhya Pradesh | 10.62 (2.51 +8.11)            |                               194   | DPR completed and implementation initiated. |

*****