Lok Sabha Question No. 92 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Interlinking of Rivers and Major Irrigation Projects
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Jugal Kishore, Shri Govind Makthappa Karjol

*92.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *92

ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026

## INTERLINKING OF RIVERS AND MAJOR IRRIGATION PROJECTS

SHRI GOVIND MAKTHAPPA KARJOL:

SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of river interlinking projects that received sanctions/approvals or recorded progress during the last five years in the country, State/UT-wise including the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir;
- (b)  the  milestones  achieved  in  priority  river  links  such  as  the  Godavari-Krishna  River  link,  Krishna (Alamatti)-Pennar link, Bedti-Varda link, Netravati-Hemavathi link and Ken-Betwa link and the status of North  Koel  Canal  Irrigation  Project  along  with  the  benefits  likely  to  accrue  through  these  projects  in Jharkhand including Hazaribagh and Ramgarh districts;
- (c) the latest status of the North Koel Canal Irrigation Project related to Jharkhand and Bihar and the time by which this project is likely to be completed;
- (d) whether environmental impact assessments, wildlife clearances and social impact studies including the effects on riparian communities, inter-State water sharing and cost sharing between Centre and States have been carried out for each project, if so, the details thereof and the manner in which cost sharing is being managed;
- (e) the likely benefits of these projects in terms of irrigation potential, availability of drinking water and regional water security; and
- (f)  the  measures  taken/being  taken  to  ensure  transparency,  ecological  sustainability  and  equitable  water distribution in the river interlinking projects?

## 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. *92  TO  BE  ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026 IN  LOK SABHA REGARDING 'INTERLINKING OF RIVERS AND MAJOR IRRIGATION PROJECTS'

(a) to (c) The Feasibility Reports (FRs) for 26 links and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 13 links have been completed out of 30 identified interlinking  of rivers (ILR) projects  under the  National Perspective Plan  (NPP).  Further,  under  the  NPP,  no  interlinking  of  rivers  project  pertains  to  the  Union  Territory  of Jammu  and  Kashmir.  The  status  of  river  interlinking  projects  including Godavari-Krishna  River  link, Krishna (Alamatti)-Pennar link, Bedti-Varada Link, Netravati-Hemavathi link and Ken-Betwa link those received  sanctions/  approvals  or  recorded  progress  in  last  five  years  in  the  country  are  provided  in  the Annexure .

The Ken-Betwa Link Project is the only priority link that has entered the implementation stage. It has an estimated cost of ₹44,605 crore, with ₹39,317 crore of central support. The Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP),  which  includes  the  Godavari  (Polavaram)-Krishna  (Vijayawada)  link,  has  received  cumulative Central Assistance of ₹20,658 crore.

The North Koel Reservoir Project is an inter-State major irrigation project with its  command  area spread  across  the  States  of  Bihar  and  Jharkhand.  The  approved  cost  of  the  project  is   ₹2,430.76  crore, including a central share of ₹1,836.41 crore. The revised completion time of the project is June 2026. The irrigation potential of said project is 1,14,021 hectares.

(d) An  Environmental  Impact  Assessment  (EIA)  is  undertaken  for  every  interlinking  of  rivers  project during  the  preparation  of  FR  and  DPR  to  assess  environmental  and  socio-economic  impacts,  including those  on  riparian  communities.  Statutory  environmental  and  wildlife  clearances  are  obtained  as  required under prevailing laws. After participating States sign implementation agreements, proposals are submitted for appraisal and consideration of central support. The Cost-sharing arrangements between the Centre and States are not uniform and are determined individually for each project.

(e) The likely benefits of these projects covering irrigation potential, drinking water availability and overall regional water security are provided in Annexure .

(f) To ensure transparency, ecological sustainability and equitable water distribution, the ILR programme is guided  by  strong  institutional  mechanisms  such  as  the  Special  Committee  for  Interlinking  of  Rivers (SCILR),  the Governing Body of National Water Development Agency (NWDA)  and the Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers (TFILR). These platforms enable States to review technical, environmental, social and water-sharing aspects . All NWDA study reports are shared with States for comments, which are duly incorporated.

***

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) & (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *92 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026 REGARDING 'INTERLINKING OF RIVERS AND MAJOR IRRIGATION PROJECTS'

## DETAILS OF LINK PROJECTS THAT RECORDED PROGRESS OR RECEIVED APPROVALS DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS ALONG WITH ITS BENEFITS.

a

|   Sl. No | Name                                                   | States benefited                                                | Annual Irrigation (Lakh ha)                                                           | Domesti c& Industri al (MCM)   | Hydro power (MW)                                       | Year of completion of FR/DPR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Status                                                          |
|----------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Ken-Betwa link Project (KBLP)                          | Uttar Pradesh (UP)& Madhya Pradesh (MP)                         | 10.62 (UP- 2.51 MP. - 8.11)                                                           | 194                            | 103MW (Hydro) & 27MW(S olar) DPR completed in 2018     | Govt. of India has approved the implementation of in December 2021 with estimated cost of Rs crore (year 2020-21 level) with central support Rs 36,290 crore through Special Purpose Vehicle Ken Betwa Link Authority (KBLPA). Honourable Prime Minister has laid the foundation for project on 25.12.2024. The project is to complete March 2030. | KBLP an 44605 price of a viz; Project stone by                  |
|        2 | Godavari (Inchampalli) -Krishna (Nagarjunasa gar) link | Telangana                                                       | 2.38                                                                                  | 232                            | 26                                                     | DPR completed in January, 2024 1. DPR proposal party States 2. Draft implementation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | for this modified was circulated to in January 2024 MoA for was |
|        3 | Krishna (Nagarjunasa gar)- Pennar (Somasila) link      | Andhra Pradesh (AP)                                             | 1.71                                                                                  | 236                            | 40 DPR completed in 2024                               | circulated among in April 2024 . January,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | party states                                                    |
|        4 | Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Manimuktha                | AP Tamil Nadu                                                   | 0.51 1.14                                                                             | 43 618                         | DPR completed in January, 2024                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                 |
|        5 | ) link Modified Parbati- Kalisindh- Chambal link       | Puducherry -- MP& Rajasthan Benefits per MP 4.03 Total 10.15 ha | as MoA: - 6.11 Rajasthan - = lakh as per MoA: MP- (71.39 drinking +21.50 industria l) | 62 Benefits = 92.9             | - MoA for implementa tion has been signed in year 2024 | Memorandum Understanding (MoU) preparation of DPR signed by both the States and Rajasthan) 28.01.2024. Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for implementation has been signed in December                                                                                                                                                                | of for was (MP on                                               |

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|    |                                                                               |                   |                             | Rajastha n - (1744.16 drinking + 205.75 industria l) = 1949.91 Total = 2043 MCM   |      |                                  | 2024. DPRs of components Rajasthan have completed and uploaded on PAMS Portal of CWC.                                                                                                                             | of been e-                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  6 | Krishna (Almatti) - Pennar link                                               | Karnataka         | 0.69                        | 464.51                                                                            | ---- | DPR Completed in September 2025. | DPR Completed in September 2025.                                                                                                                                                                                  | DPR Completed in September 2025.                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|  6 | Krishna (Almatti) - Pennar link                                               | AP                | 1.57                        | 10.1- Drinking water 22.3- Industria l                                            | ---- |                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|  7 | Bedti - Varda link                                                            | Karnataka         | 1.05                        | 38                                                                                | ---- | DPR completed in September 2022. | Presently, PFR of alternate link has been submitted to State in August 2025.                                                                                                                                      | Presently, PFR of alternate link has been submitted to State in August 2025.                                                                                                                                      |
|  8 | Netravati - Hemavati link                                                     | Karnataka         | 0.34                        | --                                                                                | --   | PFR completed in year, 1994      | Further studies are not taken up since after implementation of Yettinahole project in 2014 by Govt. of Karnataka, no surplus water is available in Netravati basin for diversion through this link. in March 2024 | Further studies are not taken up since after implementation of Yettinahole project in 2014 by Govt. of Karnataka, no surplus water is available in Netravati basin for diversion through this link. in March 2024 |
|  9 | Godavari (SSMP/Incha mpalli) - Krishna (Pulichintala) link                    | Telangana &AP     | TOTAL 4.74 Telangana - 0.36 | Telanga na- 26.8                                                                  | 90.0 | DPR completed                    | DPR completed                                                                                                                                                                                                     | DPR completed                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|  9 | Godavari (SSMP/Incha mpalli) - Krishna (Pulichintala) link                    | Telangana &AP     | AP - 4.38                   | AP - 319.7                                                                        | 90.0 |                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 10 | Godavari (Polavaram) -Krishna (Viayawada) link (Polavaram irrigation project) | AP                | 4.36                        | 665                                                                               | 960  | DPR was completed in 2005        | Benefits included here are the total benefit under Polavaram Irrigation project.                                                                                                                                  | Benefits included here are the total benefit under Polavaram Irrigation project.                                                                                                                                  |
| 11 | Krishna (Srisailam) - Pennar link                                             | AP                | 1.79                        | 58                                                                                | 11   | DPR completed in March 2024      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 12 | Kosi- Ghaghra link                                                            | Bihar, U.P &Nepal | Total 8.35 6.05 - Bihar     | 0                                                                                 | --   | FR completed                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 12 | Kosi- Ghaghra link                                                            | Bihar, U.P &Nepal | 1.20 - U.P Nepal -1.10      |                                                                                   | --   |                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |

| Gandak - Ganga link                           | U.P& Nepal              | Total - 34.58 U.P -28.80 Nepal -5.78       | 700   | 4375 (Dam PH)& 180 (Canal PH)   | FR completed in June 2024       | 13                |
|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------|
| Yamuna-                                       | Haryana& Rajasthan      | Haryana - 0.11 Rajasthan- 2.40             | 30    | 1702                            | FR completed in September, 2021 | 14 Rajasthan link |
| Rajasthan- Sabarmati link                     | Rajasthan &Gujarat      | Total - 11.53 Rajasthan - 11.21 Gujarat-   | 102   | 5126                            | FR completed in Feb, 2021       | 15                |
| Chunar-Sone Barrage link                      | Bihar & U.P             | 0.32 Total - 0.60 Bihar - 0.10 U.P. - 0.49 | --    | --                              | FR completed in September, 2025 | 16                |
| Ganga (Farakka) - Damodar- Subarnarekh a link | W.B., Odisha& Jharkhand | W.B. - 11.18 Orissa- 0.39 Jharkhand- 0.73  | 432   | --                              | FR completed in March 2021      | 17.               |
| Subarnarekh a-Mahanadi link                   | W.B.& Odisha            | Total - 2.16 W.B. - 0.18 Orissa - 1.98     | 198   | 20                              | FR completed in Feb. 2021       | 18.               |

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