Lok Sabha Question No. 157 (STARRED), answered on 2024-08-01
Subject: Inter-linking of Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *157

ANSWERED ON 01.08.2024

## INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS

## *157.    DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  inter-linking  of  rivers  programme  under  National  Perspective  Plan  has  achieved  its objectives, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  any  special  scheme  to  inter-link  rivers  of  the  country, particularly in Maharashtra;
- (c) if so, the details along with the current status thereof;
- (d) the details of timeline fixed for completion of inter-linking of rivers;
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government for inter-linking of river projects in the country, river-wise; and
- (f)  the  details  of  the  benefits  in  respect  of  irrigation,  drinking  water  supply  and  hydro  power  generation through these projects along with the estimated cost thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PAATIL)

- (a) to (f) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *157 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2024 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING 'INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS'

(a) to (e) Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), prepared in the year 1980 for inter-basin water transfer, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports. Out of 30 identified link projects, Pre Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of all the 30 links, Feasibility Reports (FRs) of 24 links and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 11 links have been completed. The details of the ILR projects under the Peninsular component of NPP and their current status, are furnished at Annexure-I. This list also includes those links which are interalia going to benefit State of Maharastra.

NWDA has also carried out studies in respect of intra-State river linking projects on the request of States. Under the intra-State link project, NWDA has received 49 link proposals from 10 States out of which PFRs of 39 link projects and DPRs of 6 link projects have been completed and submitted to the concerned States. Latest status of intra-State link projects is furnished at Annexure-II.

The ILR programme has been accorded top priority and it is being pursued by the Government of India in a consultative manner. Government of India has made concerted efforts for bringing the party States to reach a consensus. To streamline the decision making process in respect of the ILR projects, a 'Special Committee on Interlinking  of  Rivers  (SCILR)'  has  been  constituted  by  the  Government  of  India  in  September,  2014,  21 meetings of which has already been held. Further, a Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers (TFILR) has also been constituted in April, 2015 for expediting the ILR programme and the Task Force has also held 19 meetings.

The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first and the only ILR project, which is under implementation on  the  ground.  Subsequent  to  the  signing  of  a  tripartite  Memorandum  of  Agreement  amongst  the  States  of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and Government of India, the project was approved by the Government of India, in December, 2021, for implementation at an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605 crore (at year 2020-21 price level), including a central support of Rs. 39,317 crore. Before the construction work starts, at present the focus is  on  accomplishing all preparatory activities including land acquisition, R&R, obtaining statutory clearances etc. The KBLP is scheduled to be completed by March, 2030.

Stipulation of time for completion of the other ILR projects comes into picture only after the party States arrive  at  a  consensus  for  their  implementation.  It  is  for  the  party  States  to  arrive  at  a  consensus  for implementation of these link projects.

(f) Overall, the ILR projects under NPP would provide additional benefits of 35 million hectares of irrigation and  34,000  MW  of  hydro-power  generation  apart  from  incidental  benefits  like  augmenting  Domestic  & Industrial Water Supply, etc. The total estimated cost for the ILR projects under the NPP is Rs. 8.44 lakh crore at 2015-16 price level. The details of benefits in respect of irrigation, drinking water supply and hydro power generation through these ILR projects is, inter alia ,  furnished at Annexure-I .  With respect to the Ken-Betwa Link Project, this project would provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh hectares, domestic water supply for 62 lakh population and would also generate 103 MW of Hydro power and 27 MW of Solar power.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *157 TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  01.08.2024  REGARDING  'INTER-LINKING  OF RIVERS'.

## Details  of ILR projects under the NPP and their Current Status

## Peninsular Component

|   Sl. No | Name                                                                       | States benefited           | Annual Irrigation (Lakh ha)   | Domestic &Industrial (Mm 3 )   | Hydro power (MW)   | Status              |
|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
|        1 | a. Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link                    | AP& Odisha                 | 4.43                          | 802                            | 445                | FR completed        |
|        1 | b. Alternate Mahanadi (Barmul) - Rushikulya - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link | AP& Odisha                 | 6.25 (0.91 + 3.52 + 1.82**)   | 700 +125**                     | 210 + 240**        | FR completed        |
|        2 | Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada) link                           | AP                         | 2.1                           | 162                            | --                 | FR completed        |
|        3 | a.)Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link                  | Telangana                  | 2.87                          | 237                            | 975+70= 1045       | FR completed        |
|        3 | b.) Alternate Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link *     | Telangana                  | 3.67                          | 140                            | 70                 | DPR completed       |
|        4 | Godavari (Inchampalli/ SSMPP) - Krishna (Pulichintala) link                | Telangana &AP              | 4.74 (0.36 + 4.38)            | 346                            | 90                 | DPR completed       |
|        5 | a.) Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila ) link                     | AP                         | 5.81                          | 124                            | 90                 | FR completed        |
|        5 | b.)Alternate Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila ) link *          | AP                         | 2.94                          | 218                            | 120                | DPR completed       |
|        6 | Krishna (Srisailam) - Pennar link                                          | AP                         | 1.78                          | 58                             | --                 | Draft DPR completed |
|        7 | Krishna (Almatti) - Pennar link                                            | AP &Karnataka              | 2.58 (1.9+0.68)               | 56                             | 13.5               | Draft DPR completed |
|        8 | a.)Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link                         | AP, Tamil Nadu &Puducherry | 4.91 (0.49+ 4.36 +0.06)       | 1105                           | --                 | FR completed        |
|        8 | b.) Alternate Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link *            | AP, Tamil Nadu &Puducherry | 2.83 (0.51+ 2.32)             | 1098 (62+ 1036)                |                    | DPR completed       |
|        9 | Cauvery (Kattalai) - Vaigai - Gundar link                                  | Tamil Nadu                 | 4.48                          | 218                            | --                 | DPR completed       |
|       10 | a. Parbati -Kalisindh - Chambal link                                       | MP &Rajasthan              | 2.30                          | - 13.2                         | --                 | FR completed        |
|       10 | b) Modified Parbati - Kalisindh- Chambal link (duly integrated with ERCP)  | MP &Rajasthan              | 3.38(as per draft PFR)        | 36 (as per draft PFR)          | -                  | Draft PFR completed |

|   11 | Damanganga - Pinjal link       | Maharashtra (only water supply to Mumbai)   | --                 | 895   | 5                            | DPR completed                                   |
|------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|--------------------|-------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
|   12 | Par-Tapi-Narmada link          | Gujarat& Maharashtra                        | 2.32 (2.28+ 0.04)  | 126   | 21                           | DPR completed                                   |
|   13 | Ken-Betwa link                 | Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh              | 10.62 (2.51 +8.11) | 194   | 103MW (Hydro) & 27MW (Solar) | DPR completed &project is under impleme ntation |
|   14 | Pamba - Achankovil Vaipparlink | Tamil Nadu& Kerala                          | 0.91 ---           | --    | --- 508                      | FR completed                                    |
|   15 | Bedti - Varda link             | Karnataka                                   | 1.05               | 38    | ----                         | DPR completed                                   |
|   16 | Netravati - Hemavati link***   | Karnataka                                   | 0.34               | --    | --                           | PFR completed                                   |

* Due to pending consensus on Manibhadra and Inchampalli dams, Alternate study to divert unutilized waters of Godavari river was carried out and DPR of Godavari (Inchampalli/ Janampet) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link projects completed. Godavari-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link project  has  been  prepared  comprising  of  Godavari  (Inchampalli  /  Janampet)  -  Krishna   (Nagarjunasagar), Krishna (Nagarjunasagar)- Pennar (Somasila) and Pennar(Somasila)-Cauvery(Grand Anicut) link projects.

** Benefit from Six Projects of Govt. of Odisha

*** Further studies are not taken up since after implementation of Yettinahole project by Govt. of Karnataka, no surplus water is available in Netravati basin for diversion through this link.

## Himalayan Component

|   Sl.No | Name                  | States / Countries benefited   | Annual Irrigation (Lakh ha)   |   Domestic &Industrial (Mm 3 ) | Hydro power (MW)              | Status                              |
|---------|-----------------------|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
|       1 | Kosi-Mechi link       | Bihar & Nepal                  | 4.74 (2.99+1.75)              |                             24 | 3180                          | PFR completed                       |
|       2 | Kosi-Ghaghra link     | Bihar, U.P & Nepal             | 8.35 (6.05+1.20 +1.10)        |                              0 | --                            | FR completed                        |
|       3 | Gandak - Ganga link   | U.P &Nepal                     | 34.58 (28.80+5.78 )           |                            700 | 4375 (Dam PH) &180 (Canal PH) | FR completed (Indian portion)       |
|       4 | Ghaghra - Yamuna link | U.P &Nepal                     | 27.84 (25.30 + 2.54)          |                           1391 | 10884                         | draft FR completed (Indian portion) |
|       5 | Sarda - Yamuna link   | U.P &Uttarakhand               | 2.95 (2.65 + 0.30)            |                           3054 | 6620 (5600+1020)              | FR completed                        |
|       6 | Yamuna-Rajasthan link | Haryana & Rajasthan            | 2.51 (0.11+ 2.40 )            |                             30 | --                            | FR completed                        |

|   7. | Rajasthan-Sabarmati link                                | Rajasthan & Gujarat       | 11.53 (11.21+0.32)         | 102   | --                          | FR completed                                  |
|------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|----------------------------|-------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
|    8 | Chunar-Sone Barrage link                                | Bihar &U.P                | 0.67 (0.13 + 0.54)         | --    | --                          | PFR completed                                 |
|    9 | Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Ganga link           | Bihar & Jharkhand         | 3.07 (2.39 + 0.68 )        | 360   | 95(90 Dam PH) &5 (Canal PH) | PFR completed                                 |
|   10 | Manas-Sankosh- Tista-Ganga (M-S- T-G) link              | Assam, W.B &Bihar         | 3.41 (2.05 + 1.00 + 0.36 ) | --    | --                          | FR completed                                  |
|   11 | Jogighopa-Tista- Farakka link (Alternative to M-S- T-G) | Assam, W.B &Bihar         | 3.559 (0.975+ 1.564+ 1.02) | 265   | 360                         | PFR completed (The proposal has been dropped) |
|   12 | Farakka-Sundarbans link                                 | W.B                       | 1.50                       | 184   | --                          | FR completed                                  |
|   13 | Ganga(Farakka) Damodar- Subarnarekha link               | - W.B., Odisha& Jharkhand | 12.30 (11.18+ 0.39+ 0.73)  | 432   | --                          | FR completed                                  |
|   14 | Subarnarekha- Mahanadi link                             | W.B. &Odisha              | 2.16 (0.18+ 1.98)          | 198   | 20                          | FR completed                                  |

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *157 TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  01.08.2024  REGARDING  'INTER-LINKING  OF RIVERS'.

## Status of Intra-State Link Proposals of State Governments

| S.No.       | Name of Intra-State Link                                  | Rivers                          | Present status of PFR /DPR                                                            |
|-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| MAHARASHTRA | MAHARASHTRA                                               | MAHARASHTRA                     | MAHARASHTRA                                                                           |
| 1           | Wainganga (Goshikurd) - Nalganga (Purna Tapi)             | Wainganga &Nalganga             | DPR completed                                                                         |
| 2           | Wainganga-Manjra Valley                                   | Wainganga &Manjra               | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                    |
| 3           | Upper Krishna - Bhima (system of Six links)               | Krishna &Bhima                  | PFR completed                                                                         |
| 4           | Damanganga (Ekdare)-Godavari Valley                       | Damanganga &Godavari            | DPR completed                                                                         |
| 5(i)        | Upper Vaitarna-Godavari valley                            | Vaitarna &Godavari              | PFR completed.                                                                        |
| 5(ii)       | Damanganga-Vaitarna- Godavari (Kadva/Dev)Valley           | Damanganga, Vaitarna Godavari   | DPR completed                                                                         |
| 6           | North Konkan-GodavariValley                               | Patalganga & Godavari           | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                    |
| 7           | Koyna- Mumbai city                                        | Koyna                           | PFR completed                                                                         |
| 8           | Sriram SagarProject (Godavari) - Purna-Manjira            | Godavari, Purna &Manjira        | PFR completed                                                                         |
| 9           | Wainganga (Gosikhurd)-Godavari (SRSP)                     | Wainganga &Godavari             | Withdrawn by Govt. of Maharashtra                                                     |
| 10          | Middle Konkan-Bhima Valley                                | Savitri, Kundalika, Amba &Bhima | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                    |
| 11          | Koyna-Nira                                                | Koyna &Nira                     | PFR completed                                                                         |
| 12          | Mulsi-Bhima                                               | Mulsi &Bhima                    | PFR completed                                                                         |
| 13          | Savithri-Bhima                                            | Savithri &Bhima                 | PFR completed                                                                         |
| 14          | Kolhapur-Sangli-Sangola                                   | Krishna &Bhima                  | PFR completed                                                                         |
| 15          | River linking projects of Tapi basin and Jalgaon District | Tapi                            | PFR completed                                                                         |
| 16          | Nar-Par-Girna valley                                      | Nar, Par &Girna                 | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                    |
| 17          | Narmada-Tapi                                              | Narmada &Tapi                   | PFR completed                                                                         |
| 18          | Khariagutta-Navatha Satpura foothills                     | Dropped                         | Groundwater                                                                           |
| 19          | Kharia Ghuti Ghat-Tapi                                    | Dropped                         | recharge schemes to be studied by CGWB, as such not accepted by NWDA for PFR studies. |
| 20          | Jigaon-Tapi-Godavari Valley                               | Tapi &Godavari                  | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                    |

## GUJARAT

| 21        | Damanganga - Sabarmati - Chorwad                                                                                                                                                | Damanganga, Sabarmati&Chorwad     | PFR completed                                                                                                         |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| ODISHA    | ODISHA                                                                                                                                                                          | ODISHA                            | ODISHA                                                                                                                |
| 22        | Mahanadi-Brahmani                                                                                                                                                               | Mahanadi &Brahmani                | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                                                    |
| 23        | Mahanadi-Rushikulya (Barmul Project)                                                                                                                                            | Mahanadi & Rushikulya             | PFR completed. (All benefits are taken over by M-G link)                                                              |
| 24        | Vamsadhara-Rushikulya (Nandini Nalla project)                                                                                                                                   | Vamsadhara & Rushikulya           | PFR completed                                                                                                         |
| 25        | Nagavalli- Vamsadhara -Rushikulya                                                                                                                                               | Nagavalli, Rushikulia & Vamsdhara | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                                                    |
| JHARKHAND | JHARKHAND                                                                                                                                                                       | JHARKHAND                         | JHARKHAND                                                                                                             |
| 26        | SouthKoel-Subernarekha                                                                                                                                                          | South Koel&Subernarekha           | PFR completed                                                                                                         |
| 27        | Sankh-SouthKoel                                                                                                                                                                 | Sankh&SouthKoel                   | PFR completed                                                                                                         |
| 28        | Barakar-Damodar-Subernarekha                                                                                                                                                    | Barkar,Damodar&Subernar ekha      | PFR completed                                                                                                         |
| BIHAR     | BIHAR                                                                                                                                                                           | BIHAR                             | BIHAR                                                                                                                 |
| 29        | Kosi-Mechi[entirely lie in India]                                                                                                                                               | Kosi &Mechi                       | DPR completed.                                                                                                        |
| 30        | Barh-Nawada                                                                                                                                                                     | Ganga &Kiul                       | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                                                    |
| 31        | Kohra - Chandravat (Kohra- Lalbegi)                                                                                                                                             | Kohra &Chandravat                 | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                                                    |
| 32        | Burhi Gandak- Noon- Baya- Ganga                                                                                                                                                 | Burhi Gandak ,Noon, Baya &Ganga   | DPR completed, CWC opined that the project may be considered as Flood Moderation project. Informed to Govt. of Bihar. |
| 33        | Burhi Gandak - Bagmati [Belwadhar]                                                                                                                                              | Burhi Gandak & Bagmati            | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                                                    |
| 34        | Kosi-Ganga                                                                                                                                                                      | Kosi&Ganga                        | PFR completed                                                                                                         |
| 35        | Development of Bagmati Irrigation &Drainage Project- Phase-II (Barrage near Kataunjha in Muzaffarpur District) and Adhwara Multipurpose Project with Kosi- Adhwara-Bagmati Link | Kosi, Adhwara &Bagmati            | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                                                    |
| 36        | Transfer of Ganga water to South Bihar through pump Canal Scheme at Buxer                                                                                                       | Ganga                             | Initially, NWDA consented to take up the studies but after                                                            |
| 37        | Development of Badua-Chandan Basin                                                                                                                                              | Badua &Chandan                    | receiving the details from Govt. of Bihar, it                                                                         |

|               |                                                                        |                                            | was found that these are not intra-state links and therefore not taken up the studies.   |
|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 38            | Sone-Falgu link                                                        | Sone&Falgu                                 | Preliminary Study was taken up (Not found feasible)                                      |
| RAJASTHAN     | RAJASTHAN                                                              | RAJASTHAN                                  | RAJASTHAN                                                                                |
| 39            | Mahi-Luni link                                                         | Mahi&Luni                                  | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                       |
| 40            | Wakal-Sabarmati- Sei-West Banas-Kamerilink                             | Wakal, Sabarmati, Sei, West Banas & Kameri | PFR completed (Not found feasible)                                                       |
| TAMIL NADU    | TAMIL NADU                                                             | TAMIL NADU                                 | TAMIL NADU                                                                               |
| 41            | Ponnaiyar-Palar link                                                   | Ponnaiyar &Palar                           | PFR and DPR completed                                                                    |
| KARNATAKA     | KARNATAKA                                                              | KARNATAKA                                  | KARNATAKA                                                                                |
| 42            | Almatti (Bagalkot)-Malaprabha Sub-basin                                | Almatti&Malaprabha                         | Prima Facie Not found feasible                                                           |
| 43            | Malaprabha-Tungabhadra Sub-basin                                       | Malaprabha & Tungabhadra                   | Prima Facie Not found feasible                                                           |
| 44            | Bedti-Dharma-Varada link                                               | Bedti,Dharma&Varada                        | PFR completed                                                                            |
| 45            | Bhadra-Vedavathi (Vani Vilasa Sagar) link                              | Bhadra &Vedavathi                          | Government of Karnataka withdrew the proposal during 11 th                               |
| 46            | Diversion of west flowing rivers schemes (Barapole-upper Cauvery link) | Barapole & upper Cauvery                   | meeting of Special Committee for ILR.                                                    |
| 47            | Diversion from Bedti & Aghanashini toVarada                            | Aghanashini&Varada                         | PFR completed                                                                            |
| CHATTISGARH   | CHATTISGARH                                                            | CHATTISGARH                                | CHATTISGARH                                                                              |
| 48            | Pairy-Mahanadi link                                                    | Pairy& Mahanadi                            | PFR completed                                                                            |
| UTTAR PRADESH | UTTAR PRADESH                                                          | UTTAR PRADESH                              | UTTAR PRADESH                                                                            |
| 49            | Sharda-Gomti link                                                      | Sharda &Gomti                              | PFR completed                                                                            |

*****