Lok Sabha Question No. 397 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-25
Subject: Inter-Linking of Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY, PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH, KIRIT SOMAIYA, SURESH KODIKUNNIL, NEELAM SONKER, KALIKESH NARAYAN SINGH DEO, JAYADEV GALLA, HARI MANJHI, MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 397

ANSWERED ON 25.02.2016

## INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS

| 397. SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY   | SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN   |
|--------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| DR. PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH        | DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA               |
| SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH         | SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER          |
| SHRI KALIKESH N. SINGH DEO     | SHRI JAYADEV GALLA              |
| SHRI HARI MANJHI               | SHRIMATIMALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH   |

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

- (a) the current status of inter-linking of rivers under the National Perspective Plan of the Government, river/State-wise, along with the expenditure estimated to be incurred in linking of each river;
- (b)  whether any suggestions/requests/ objections have been received from certain States in this regard and if so, the details thereof including the action taken thereon;
- (c) the quantum of funds allocated/ released/spent, if any, for the purpose so far, State/UT-wise;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  or  plans  to  conduct  a  social  impact  and  environmental assessment of the effect on the livelihood of the people living in areas likely to be affected due to the project, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the time by which each river linking is likely to be started/completed along with the benefits likely to accrue therefrom?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (SUSHRI UMA BHARTI)

- (a)   This Ministry has formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources Development envisaging  inter-basin  transfer  of  water  from  surplus  basins  to  deficit  basins/  areas.  Based  on  surveys, investigations  and  detailed  studies,  National  Water  Development  Agency  (NWDA)  has  prepared  prefeasibility  reports  which  facilitated  identification  of  30  links  under  the  NPP.  The  status  of  river  links identified under NPP are given in Annexure-I .  Based on the concurrence of the States, Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for Ken-Betwa, Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada links have been completed by NWDA.

The initial cost of the Inter Linking projects as estimated in Preliminary Studies at Pre-feasibility/Feasibility stage by the then Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers (TF-ILR-2002) is Rs 5.60 Lakh crore at 2002 Price Level. The expenditure on inter-linking projects can be estimated only after completion of Detailed Project Report (DPRs) of individual link projects. The estimated expenditure of link projects for which Detailed Project Reports have been completed is given at Annexure-II .

(b)     The  Government  is  pursuing  the  Interlinking  of  River  program  in  a  consultative  manner.  Its implementation  is  dependent  upon  the  consensus  and  co-operation  of  the  concerned  States  and  upon obtaining  various  mandatory  clearances  from  Ministry/  Departments  of  Central  and  State  Governments including statutory clearances. The details of objections raised by concerned State Governments for taking up Feasibility Report (FR)/DPR of proposed inter-linking of river projects are given at Annexure III .

(c)     Ministry  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  &  Ganga  Rejuvenation  has  kept  an  amount  of Rs.280 cr in 12 th Five year plan, for preparation of Pre-feasibility Report (PFR), Feasibility Report (FR) and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the various river-link projects. The budgetary provision for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs) and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the last three Financial Year viz. 201213, 2013-14 and 2014-15 is Rs. 51.30 cr., Rs. 63.20 cr., and Rs. 60.0 cr. respectively, and for Fiscal Year 2015-16  Rs.  69.0  cr.  has  been  allocated.  The  expenditure  has  been  incurred  for  studies  for  establishing viability  of  the  proposals  from  hydrological  and  technical  angles.  The  expenditure  incurred,  is  not maintained project-wise/State-wise.

(d)    At  the  time  of  preparation  of  Detailed  Project  Report  of  the  individual  river  link  projects,  detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies as per Terms of Reference approved by Environmental Appraisal Committee  (EAC)  of  Ministry  of Environment  and  Forests  &CC  are  carried out. All environmental  impacts  and  issues  arising  out  of  the  EIA  studies  are  duly  addressed  in  Environmental Management Plan which forms a part of DPR.

Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) Plan in respect of project affected persons is an integral part of the implementation of any Inter Linking of River project and is included in the DPR.

(e)   The time limit for the completion of individual link project can be identified only after Detailed Project Reports  are  techno-  economically  approved.  The  implementation  of  National  Perspective  Plan  for  water Resources Development would create an additional irrigation potential of approximately 35 million hectares and generate 34000 mega watts (MW) hydro power apart from the incidental benefits of flood moderation, navigation, drinking and industrial water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc. This is a big focus area of the Ministry and a special committee of the Ministry regularly reviews the programme..

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Unstarred Question No. 397 due for answer in Lok Sabha on 25.02.2016 regarding Inter-linking of Rivers.

## Present status of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links

| Sl. No               | Name                                                                | States concerned                                                                                   | States benefited                              | Status                                                                        |
|----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Peninsular Component | Peninsular Component                                                | Peninsular Component                                                                               | Peninsular Component                          | Peninsular Component                                                          |
| 1                    | Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link                | Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh,                                     | Andhra Pradesh &Odisha                        | Feasibility Report Completed                                                  |
| 2                    | Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Pulichintala) link                | -do-                                                                                               | -do-                                          | Feasibility Report Completed                                                  |
| 3                    | Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link              | Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka& Chattisgarh,                       | -do-                                          | Feasibility Report Completed                                                  |
| 4                    | Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada) link                    | Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Chattisgarh,                                     | Andhra Pradesh                                | Feasibility Report Completed                                                  |
| 5                    | Krishna (Almatti) - Pennar link                                     | -do-                                                                                               | Andhra Pradesh &Karnataka                     | Feasibility Report Completed                                                  |
| 6                    | Krishna (Srisailam) - Pennar link                                   | -do-                                                                                               | --                                            | Feasibility Report Completed                                                  |
| 7                    | Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila ) link                  | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh &Karnataka,                                                            | -do-                                          | Feasibility Report Completed                                                  |
| 8                    | Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link                     | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala &Puducherry                                          | Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu& Puducherry        | Feasibility Report Completed                                                  |
| 9                    | Cauvery (Kattalai) - Vaigai -Gundar link                            | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala &Puducherry                                                          | Tamil Nadu                                    | Feasibility Report Completed                                                  |
| 10                   | Ken-Betwa link a) Ken-Betwa Link Phase-I b) Ken-Betwa link Phase-II | Uttar Pradesh &Madhya Pradesh - do-                                                                | Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh | DPR Phase-I completed in April 2010& DPR Phase-II Completed in January 2014 . |
| 11                   | Parbati -Kalisindh- - Chambal link                                  | Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan &Uttar Pradesh (UP requested to be consulted during consensus building ) | Madhya Pradesh &Rajasthan                     | Feasibility Report Completed                                                  |
| 12                   | Par-Tapi-Narmada link                                               | -do-                                                                                               | Gujarat                                       | DPR completed in August,2015                                                  |

| 13                  | Damanganga - Pinjal link (As per DPR )                | Maharashtra &Gujarat                                         | Maharashtra (only water supply to Mumbai)   | DPR Completed in March 2014 .                           |
|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| 14                  | Bedti - Varda link                                    | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh &Karnataka                       | Karnataka                                   | Pre-Feasibility Report Completed                        |
| 15                  | Netravati - Hemavati link                             | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala                               | Karnataka                                   | Pre-Feasibility Report Completed                        |
| 16                  | Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link                     | Kerala &Tamil Nadu,                                          | Tamil Nadu                                  | Feasibility Report Completed                            |
| Himalayan Component | Himalayan Component                                   | Himalayan Component                                          | Himalayan Component                         | Himalayan Component                                     |
| 1.                  | Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga (M-S-T-G) link              | Assam, West Bengal, Bihar& Bhutan                            | Assam, West Bengal &Bihar                   | FR in progress                                          |
| 2.                  | Kosi-Ghaghra link                                     | Bihar , Uttar Pradesh & Nepal                                | Bihar &Uttar Pradesh                        | FR in Indian portion in progress                        |
| 3.                  | Gandak-Ganga link                                     | -do-                                                         | Uttar Pradesh                               | Draft FR completed(for Indian portion)                  |
| 4.                  | Ghaghra-Yamuna link                                   | -do-                                                         | Uttar Pradesh                               | FR completed (for Indian portion)                       |
| 5.                  | Sarda-Yamuna link                                     | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand &Nepal | Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand                 | FR completed (for Indian portion)                       |
| 6.                  | Yamuna-Rajasthan link                                 | Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana &Rajasthan                   | Haryana& Rajasthan                          | Draft FR completed                                      |
| 7.                  | Rajasthan-Sabarmati link                              | -do-                                                         | Rajasthan& Gujarat                          | Draft FR completed                                      |
| 8.                  | Chunar-Sone Barrage link                              | Bihar &Uttar Pradesh                                         | Bihar &Uttar Pradesh                        | Draft FR completed                                      |
| 9.                  | Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Ganga link         | Bihar &Jharkhand                                             | Bihar & Jharkhand                           | FR in progress                                          |
| 10.                 | Ganga(Farakka)-Damodar- Subernarekha link             | West Bengal, Odisha& Jharkhand                               | West Bengal, Odisha& Jharkhand              | Draft FR completed                                      |
| 11.                 | Subernarekha-Mahanadi link                            | West Bengal &Odisha                                          | West Bengal & Odisha                        | Draft FR Completed                                      |
| 12.                 | Kosi-Mechi link                                       | Bihar , West Bengal& Nepal                                   | Bihar                                       | PFR completed. FR to be taken up Entirely lies in Nepal |
| 13.                 | Farakka-Sunderbans link                               | West Bengal                                                  | West Bengal                                 | Draft FR completed                                      |
| 14.                 | Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link (Alternative to M-S-T-G) | -do-                                                         | Assam, West Bengal &Bihar                   | Alternative to M-S- T-G Link. Not to be taken up.       |

FR    --   Feasibility Report

PFR  -   Pre feasibility Report

DPR  - Detailed Project Report

S&I   -- Survey and Investigation

MCM -- Million Cubic Meters

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Unstarred Question No. 397 due for answer in Lok Sabha on 25.02.2016 regarding Inter-linking of Rivers.

|   S. No. | Links projects for which DPR is completed   | Estimated expenditure as per DPR                                                                                                                                                      |
|----------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Ken-Betwa (Phase- I &Phase-II) link         | The estimated cost of Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-I and Phase- II are about Rs. 9392.99 crores (2007-08 price level) and about Rs.2282.94 crores (2012-13 price level) respectively. |
|        2 | Damanganga - Pinjal link                    | The estimated cost of Damanganga-Pinjal link Project is about Rs.2746.61 crores (2013-14 price level).                                                                                |
|        3 | Par-Tapi-Narmada link                       | The estimated cost of Par-Tapi-Narmada Link Project is almost 9279 cr. (2014-15 price level)                                                                                          |
|        4 | BurhiGandak- Noon-Baya-Ganga Link Project   | The estimated cost of BurhiGandak-Noon-Baya-Ganga Link Project is about Rs.4213.75 crores (2012-13 price level).                                                                      |
|        5 | Kosi-Mechi Link Project                     | The estimated cost of Kosi-Mechi Link Project is about Rs.2903.25 crores (2013-14 price level)                                                                                        |

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Unstarred Question No. 397 due for answer in Lok Sabha on 25.02.2016 regarding Inter-linking of Rivers.

## Link wise Details of objections raised by various State Governments

|   S.No. | Name of Link Project                  | Concerned States          | Objections raised                                                                                                                               |
|---------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link     | Tamil Nadu & Kerala       | Kerala Assembly has passed a resolution against taking up of the Link Project (2003)                                                            |
|       2 | Parbati - Kalisindh - Chambal link    | Madhya Pradesh &Rajasthan | Govt. of Madhya Pradesh wants to implement intra- State Links in place of this Link Project.                                                    |
|       3 | Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari link | Odisha                    | Govt. of Odisha is not agreeable to this link Project due to large submergence of Manibhadra dam/reservoir and wants alternate diversion point. |
|       4 | Netravati - Hemavati link             | Karnataka& TamilNadu      | Govt. of Karnataka intends to utilize Netravati water as per its own plan.                                                                      |

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