Lok Sabha Question No. 2307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Inter-Linking of Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Keshari Devi Patel, Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2307

ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS

## †2307. SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL SHRI SANJAY JADHAV SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to implement Inter-State River Linking Projects in the country and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the river linking projects regarding diversion of excess water from Tapi basin to Godavari basin being implemented in Maharashtra and project regarding diversion of excess water from rivers in Uttar Pradesh have been approved by the State Governments and the Union Government; (c) if so, the details thereof along with the total expenditure likely to be incurred project-wise; (d) the quantity of additional water in TMC likely to be available to Uttar Pradesh and from Tapi basin to Godavari basin in Maharashtra under the said river linking project; (e)  whether  the  State  Governments  of  Maharashtra  and  Uttar  Pradesh  have  requested  the  Union Government for additional funds to meet the shortage of funds for the said river linking projects; (f) if so, the total funds requested by the said State Governments; and (g) the action taken by the Government with regard to providing financial assistance to the said projects as requested by the State Governments?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) Government of India formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) in 1980 for transfer of water from water surplus basins to water deficit basins. National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has been entrusted with work of Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) under NPP. Under the NPP, a total of 30 link projects have been identified. Out of 30 identified link projects under the NPP, Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of all the 30 links have been completed and Feasibility Reports (FRs) of 24 links and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 11 links have been completed. 5 links under the NPP have been identified as priority  links,  viz.,  Ken-Betwa  Link  Project,  Modified  Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal  and  3  links  under Godavari  (Janampet  /  Inchampalli)-Cauvery  (Grand  Anicut)  link  project.  Ken-Betwa  Link  Project (KBLP)  is  the  first  ILR  project  under  the  NPP  whose  implementation  has  been  approved  by Government of India at an estimated cost of Rs 44,605 crore (year 2020-21 price level) with central support of Rs 39,317 crore through a Special Purpose Vehicle viz; Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA).

The Government has made vigorous efforts by pursuing the inter-linking of rivers (ILR) program in a consultative manner. The implementation of the ILR link projects depends upon the concerned States to reach a consensus on the water sharing and other related issues.

(b)  to  (g) There  is  no  proposal  under  the  NPP  for  diversion  of  excess  water  from  Tapi  basin  to Godavari  basin.  However,  an  intra-State  link  proposal  was  received  by  the  NWDA  from  the Government of Maharashtra viz; Jigaon - Tapi - Godavari valley intra-State link project. Government of  Maharashtra  proposed  an  intra-State  link  project  to  divert  some  quantum  of  waters  from  the proposed Jigaon irrigation project located in Purna sub-basin of Tapi basin to Godavari valley by lift. NWDA prepared a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of this intra-State link with the available hydrological data. Study was done to assess the hydrological feasibility and to firm up the overall quantum of water availability & water balance at Jigaon irrigation project. The study has revealed that there is a water deficit at 75% dependability to the extent of 333 Million Cubic Metres (MCM) and, therefore, the link has  not  been  found  feasible.  The  details  of  link  projects  under  NPP  of  relevance  to  the  States  of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are furnished at Annexure.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (b) TO (g)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2307 ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.08.2023 REGARDING ' INTERLINKING OF RIVERS'.

The  status  of  the  link  projects  under  NPP  of  relevance  to  States  of  Maharashtra  and  Uttar Pradesh :-

|   Sl. No | Name                     | States benefited                          | Annual Irrigation (Lakh ha)   | Irrigation Water utilization (TMC)   | Domestic & Industrial Water Utilization (TMC)   | Hydro power (MW)              | Status                        |
|----------|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|        1 | Damanganga - Pinjal link | Maharashtra (only water supply to Mumbai) | --                            | ---                                  | 31.60                                           | 5                             | DPR completed                 |
|        2 | Par-Tapi- Narmada link   | Gujarat& Maharashtra                      | 2.32 (2.28+ 0.04)             | 44.85                                | 4.45                                            | 21                            | DPR completed                 |
|        3 | Ken-Betwa link           | Uttar Pradesh (UP) &Madhya Pradesh        | 10.62 (2.51 +8.11)            | 160.60                               | 6.85                                            | 103MW (Hydro) & 27MW (Solar)  | DPR completed                 |
|        4 | Kosi- Ghaghra link       | Bihar, UP & Nepal                         | 8.35 (6.05+1.20 +1.10)        | 293.96                               | 1.69                                            | --                            | Draft FR completed            |
|        5 | Gandak - Ganga link      | UP &Nepal                                 | 34.58 (28.80+5.78 )           | 736.77                               | 24.72                                           | 4375 (Dam PH) &180 (Canal PH) | FR completed (Indian portion) |
|        6 | Ghaghra - Yamuna link    | UP &Nepal                                 | 27.84 (25.30 + 2.54)          | 799.77                               | 49.12                                           | 10884                         | FR completed (Indian portion) |
|        7 | Sarda - Yamuna link      | UP & Uttarakhand                          | 2.95 (2.65 + 0.30)            | 62.08                                | 107.85                                          | 6620                          | FR completed                  |
|        8 | Chunar-Sone Barrage link | Bihar&UP                                  | 0.67 (0.13 + 0.54)            | 15.08                                | --                                              | --                            | PFR completed                 |

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