1_interlinking of rivers_22, 26

The world is fast running out of water. Anthropogenic activities are polluting and depleting this finite wellspring of life at a startling rate. Industrialization, intensive agriculture , pollution, deforestation, and construction of large dams have damaged the earth’s surface water in persistent ways .The present ineffective management of water ignores the potential of conservation and embraces the alternative of increasing supply. The ever increasing stress caused by population growth and concomitant increased agriculture and industrial demands for water have created an apparent scenario of water shortage that requires augmentation.

WHY WILL BE INDIA WATER DEFICIT?

• Annual rainfall- 400 m.ha.m.

• Total utilizable surface and ground water after full development of water resources-114m.ha.m.

UTILIZATION:

• 1991- 58m.ha.m.• 2001- 79m.ha.m• 2025- 114m.ha.m

Thus the entire quantum of utilization water will be exhausted by the year 2025.

Proposed solution

INTERLINKING OF RIVERS

INTERLINKING OF RIVERS

TODAY WE ARE WATER STRESSED,BUT TOMORRROW WE WILL BE WATER SCARCE.

HISTORY OF INTERLINKING

1972-Ganga Cauvery link proposed by Dr. K.L.Rao .

1974-“Garland canal” proposal by captain Dastur .

1980-Ministry of water resources frames the National perspective plan(NPP) .

1982-The National water development agency (NWDA) set up to carry out pre – feasibility studies .

1999-A National commission (NCIWRDP) set up to review NWDA reports .

Aug 15, 2002- President Abdul Kalam mentions the need for river linking in his independence day speech .

Oct 2002- Supreme court recommends that the government formulate a plan to link the major Indian rivers by the year 2012.

Dec 2002- Govt. appointed a task force on interlinking of 37 rivers led by Mr. Suresh Prabhu. The deadline was revised to 2016.

INDIAN RIVERS INTER-LINK

The Indian Rivers Inter-link is a proposed large-scale civil engineering project that aims to link India's rivers by a network of reservoirs and canals and so reduce persistent floods in some parts and water shortages in other parts of India.

The Inter-link project has been split into three parts - a northern Himalayan rivers inter-link component, a southern Peninsular component and starting 2005, an intrastate rivers linking component. The project is being managed by India's National Water Development Agency (NWDA), under its Ministry of Water Resources. NWDA has studied and prepared reports on 14 inter-link projects for Himalayan component, 16 inter-link projects for Peninsular component and 37 intrastate river linking projects.

STATED BENEFITS

• Alleviating droughts and flood control.• Cheap water for irrigation.• Availability of drinking water.• Generation of hydroelectric power.• Allowing more inland navigation.• Employment generation.• Fostering a spirit of national integration.

INTERLINKING:SALVATION OR FOLLY

• Riparian rights: conflict between states (as- kauveri and Mahanadi issue) have to be resolved. In addition worry of Bangladesh and Nepal have to be taken into account.

• Financing: Raising 5.6 lakh crores of rupees is a tough task and if created maintenance of huge asset is a problem. Fear of privatization of water resources.

• Flood period: Idea of networking flood water to the deficient basin does not consider the surplus period of donor area and deficient period of recipient area.

Desertification: Prevention of natural flooding may led to desertification as there will be loss of fertile soil.

River pollution: Reducing the flow of river by diversion will increase the concentration of pollutants in the river.

Security: Security of network will be an enormous load on security forces of central and state governments. As canal can be easily breached by manual or natural activities.

Land acquisition and displacement: Misery and injustice to the displaced people in obtaining compensation due to systemic corruption.

• Technical feasibility: The slope, altitude and other topographical aspects have to be considered. (e.g. for Ganga, Patna is diversible surplus but for raising water to Vindhya chain i.e. 2860 ft. high enormous amount of power is required).

ILR PRICE • Financial cost:-

5.6 L Crores Rs:-

- 250% of India’s tax revenue in 2002 - 1/4th of India’s annual GDP

- Twice the entire irrigation budget of India since 1950

• Rehabilitation cost:

- Estimated that 8,000 sq. km. of land affecting thousands of villages and towns - 33 mn of people have been displaced in India - the last 50 years most have not been rehabilitated -and ILR will also displace million of people from the most

needy section.

• Environmental cost:

- 50,000 ha of forest to be submerged only by peninsular link.

- Intensive irrigation in unsuitable soils will lead to water logging and salinity.

- Highly polluted rivers will spread toxicity to other rivers.

- River system will be altered catastrophically creating droughts and desert.

Doubtful role of government agencies Claimed that 35 mn ha of dry land regions will be brought under

irrigation but the areas not clearly identified. No clear answer to the issue of displacement and resettlement. The reports regarding the feasibility of the interlinking not

made public.

KEN BETAWA LINK:

Not yet clear, which is surplus basin and which is deficit. 1991 census data used for the implementation in 2005. No proper assessment of the ecological and social aspects. Only 3 dams figured in the report out of 10.

Alternatives to ILR Rainwater harvesting and conservation of water resources :

Changes in topography, soil system and runoff flow pattern in a changing climatic environment is considered. Not only stored rain water but soil erosion is also prevented.

Recharging ground water reservoir : Skills have to be developed for arresting rain water where it falls and allowing it to recharge these ground water reservoirs.

• Large scale utilization of ground water in deltas : practically feasible and initiatives for borewell development and irrigation needed with responsibility lying .

• Community participation: Approaches of reducing water consumption by the affluent in the cities and reducing the wastage of water by the farmers in their field can be attempted.

Options for Power

• Reduce T&D losses

• End Use efficiency (pumps, CFLs)

• Demand Side Management .

• Generation options: Small Hydro, wind, biomass, solar

CONCLUSION

Considering the pragmatic view of all the issues raised it can be concluded that implementation of this ambitious scheme is not possible in foreseeable future. Hence it can be a better option to concentrate on the local resources and think upon the alternatives available

References:

• Gopal Krishna and Uma Shankari, “Interlinking Rivers: Contradiction and confrontations”, 2004, [email protected]

• “Interlinking the rivers of India is a mirage”, Dec 2002. www.indiatogether.org/opinions/guest/interlink.htm

• ‘The mindlessness called river linking proposals”, may 2003, www.sandrp.org

• B.P. Radhakrishna, “Linking of major rivers in India: Boon or Bane?”, June 2003, current Science, Vol. 84, No. 11

Learning's: The environmental, political and the economical

aspects of the topic have provided us with the importance of water conservation. To answer the problem of water scarcity, local centralized steps can be the most viable effort (e.g. water harvesting). But in these efforts we also have to play important roles by creating awareness among the individuals of the society as well as within us. And this effort we have already initiated by efficient use of water in our day to day life. We wish to be the part of these efforts in our coming days and will certainly prove our worth to the society we live in.