inter linking of rivers_shripad, manthan adhyayan kendra_july 16,2014
DESCRIPTION
What does ILR signify? A look at the core idea behind it, its justification,benefits and issues & problems associated with it. The author would like to thank UNESCO-IHE for the use of a few slides.TRANSCRIPT
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Interlinking of Rivers (ILR)
Shripad Dharmadhikary,Manthan Adhyayan Kendra
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Core Idea
Transfer of “surplus” water from one basin to another “deficit” basin
Transfer from “flooded” rivers to those with “drought and scarcity”
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Rationale and Justification
Need to irrigate 160 m ha for food self sufficiency by 2050, but assessed potential from conventional sources 140 m ha
Floods in one part of the country, droughts in other
Reduction of regional imbalances
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Benefits
Additional irrigation of 25 m ha from surface and 10 m ha from groundwater
34,000 MW of hydropower Host of other benefits
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
The ILR Plans
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Inter Linking of Rivers Formal name – National Perspective Plan
16 links in Peninsular India 14 links in Himalayan region, several
transboundary Plus, many intra-state links
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Source: NWDA
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Source: NWDA
Polavaram Par Tapi Narmada Ken Betwa Parbati Kalisindh Chambal
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Some Active ILR Projects
Time Line
Idea of national water grid Dr. K.L Rao (then irrigation Minister), 1972
Garland Canal, Capt. Dastur 1977 Both rejected as “economically prohibitive and
“technically infeasible” MoWR and CWC in 1980 formulated the NPP Supreme Court order to expedite ILR 2002,
complete by 10 years Supreme Court order of 27 Feb 2012, constitution of
a “Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers” headed by Minister, WR
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Not a new thing
Many earlier attempts Periyar Project Parambikulam
Aliyar Beas Sutluj Link Narmada –
Sabarmati !
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Map by: Rehmat/Manthan
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Issues and Problems
Notion of surplus and deficit problematic Lack of recognition that different water flows
represent different ecological systems E-flows becoming a major issue in all river basins,
e-flows show that current notion of surplus is limited and wrong understanding
A little digression…
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
E-flows: Some Concepts
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
“The full range of natural intra- and inter-annual variation in hydrologic regimes, and associated characteristics of timing, duration, frequency, and rate of change, are critical in sustaining the full native biodiversity and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.”
(Poff et al. 1997)
Flow variation is the characteristic and all important parameter in defining river ecology, livlihoods and lives
1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-930
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
Ten Day Flows at Demwe Lower Site, Lohit River 1987 to 1992
Cum
ecs
Flow in Lohit River
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Mahanadi, Just Below Hasdeo Sangam
Components of the flow regime
(Mathews and Richter, 2007)
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Brahmaputra Plains
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Hasdeo River, Tributary of Mahanadi
Ecological functions of flow
Channel formHabitat complexityPatch disturbance
Biotic diversity
Principle 1
Life history patterns • Flowers & seeds• Growth strategy
Principle 2
Lateral connectivityLongitudinal connectivity
Principle 3
Natural regime discourages invasionsPrinciple 4
Time
Dis
char
ge
spates
variability
access to floodplains
dispersaltriggers
stable baseflowsdrought
Bunn & Arthington 2002
seasonalitypredictability
reproductive triggers
Environmental Flows20
Issues and Problems
Apart from a mistaken notion of surplus No proper definition of surplus or deficit Surplus estimated based only on irrigation, water
supply and hydropower needs Needs of river, ecology, community, livelihoods not
considered Irrigation needs (maximum possible irrigation)
assessed only on basis of large dams systems Decentralised, rainwater harvesting potential not
considered
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014
Issues and Problems
Many dams, canals, tunnels SANDRP estimates at least 78 dams and barrages Huge social and environmental impacts Particularly downstream impacts, displacement Very high lifts, up to 120 m Huge financial costs 340,000 crore Himalayan,
103,000 crore Peninsular, at 2003-04 prices Interstate issues as many rivers are multi-state International issues – ILR requires dams in Nepal,
Bhutan Diverting attention from real solutions
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra July 17, 2014