INTERLINKING OF INTERLINKING OF INDIAN RIVERSINDIAN RIVERS

THE NATIONAL RIVER GRIDTHE NATIONAL RIVER GRID

AMBAREESH AVADHUT KSHIRSAGARAMBAREESH AVADHUT KSHIRSAGAR&&

Dr. A. G. UGARKARDr. A. G. UGARKAR

In 1972, Dr K L Rao put forth an idea to link In 1972, Dr K L Rao put forth an idea to link the sacred river Ganga – a perennially flowing the sacred river Ganga – a perennially flowing river fed by both water and the Himalayas – river fed by both water and the Himalayas – with the river Cauvery – an important river with the river Cauvery – an important river flowing through the south that is chiefly flowing through the south that is chiefly monsoon fed.monsoon fed.

The idea was that the excess waters of the The idea was that the excess waters of the Ganga which floods every year during Ganga which floods every year during monsoons would be redirected to the Cauvery monsoons would be redirected to the Cauvery through a series of canals.through a series of canals.

This would solve the problem of wet draughts This would solve the problem of wet draughts in the north and those of dry periods and water in the north and those of dry periods and water scarcity in the south.scarcity in the south.

HOW IT ALL BEGANHOW IT ALL BEGAN

AdvantagesAdvantages

If the project had come into existence, it If the project had come into existence, it would have solved many water related would have solved many water related queries including the problem of queries including the problem of irrigation.irrigation.

Certain projects which were similar in Certain projects which were similar in concept to the idea of interlinking such concept to the idea of interlinking such as the Bhakra – Nangal project and the as the Bhakra – Nangal project and the Sardar Sarovar project have proven to Sardar Sarovar project have proven to be beneficial in the areas that they be beneficial in the areas that they serve.serve.

Disadvantages Disadvantages No feasibility studies were conducted at the time when the No feasibility studies were conducted at the time when the

government decided to go forth with this project in 2001. not government decided to go forth with this project in 2001. not even a committee was set up to analyse the various aspects.even a committee was set up to analyse the various aspects.

When a committee was set up after much criticism, it consisted When a committee was set up after much criticism, it consisted only of civil engineers who were dreaming up huge profit only of civil engineers who were dreaming up huge profit margins.margins.

Dams and canals were to cover a land of around 300,000 Dams and canals were to cover a land of around 300,000 hectares of which 120,000 would be forests and other types of hectares of which 120,000 would be forests and other types of vegetation.vegetation.

Dams cause water stagnation which would lead to the siltation of Dams cause water stagnation which would lead to the siltation of the lands surrounding them leading to soil infertility.the lands surrounding them leading to soil infertility.

Relocation of displaced people would put enormous stresses on Relocation of displaced people would put enormous stresses on the socio ecological condition.the socio ecological condition.

It was revealed that the actual cost of the project was to be far It was revealed that the actual cost of the project was to be far more than the estimated Rs 560,000 Cr.more than the estimated Rs 560,000 Cr.

Sharing the waters of the Ganga with another river through Sharing the waters of the Ganga with another river through canals violated the treaty between India and Bangladesh through canals violated the treaty between India and Bangladesh through which the river flows too.which the river flows too.

Reactions to the projectReactions to the project Mr PRV Raja in his article in The Hindu dated Sept 23Mr PRV Raja in his article in The Hindu dated Sept 23rdrd

2003 stated that a group of scientists from India, Nepal 2003 stated that a group of scientists from India, Nepal and The Great Britain conducted a survey in the and The Great Britain conducted a survey in the Himalayas, which concluded that due to the rapid rate at Himalayas, which concluded that due to the rapid rate at which the glaciers were melting, there wouldn’t be much which the glaciers were melting, there wouldn’t be much snow left within a span of 25 years to feed the rivers, snow left within a span of 25 years to feed the rivers, and soon enough all the Himalayan rivers including the and soon enough all the Himalayan rivers including the Ganga would become monsoon fed. This rendered the Ganga would become monsoon fed. This rendered the link between the Ganga and the Cauvery pointless.link between the Ganga and the Cauvery pointless.

Ms Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan said Ms Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan said that to cater to the need of the water deficit areas which that to cater to the need of the water deficit areas which were widely dispersed all over the country, the need was were widely dispersed all over the country, the need was to come up with a solution for each area individually and to come up with a solution for each area individually and not put the fate of all these areas in the flanks of one not put the fate of all these areas in the flanks of one centralised mammoth project, which also didn’t make centralised mammoth project, which also didn’t make any sense financially.any sense financially.

Mr Rajinder Singh of the Jal Biradari project who Mr Rajinder Singh of the Jal Biradari project who successfully revived the Aravari river in Alwar said that successfully revived the Aravari river in Alwar said that the success indicated that planning and management the success indicated that planning and management that was centred around the people, worked.that was centred around the people, worked.

Mr BP Radhakrishnan of the GSI expressed his Mr BP Radhakrishnan of the GSI expressed his concerns about the project stating that Interlinking concerns about the project stating that Interlinking was of the solution to the increasing frequency of was of the solution to the increasing frequency of draughts. To him, practical and smaller scale solutions draughts. To him, practical and smaller scale solutions such as rain water harvesting made more sense. He such as rain water harvesting made more sense. He quoted Ms Arundhati Roy as “Big dams were gold quoted Ms Arundhati Roy as “Big dams were gold mines politicians, beauraucrats and construction mines politicians, beauraucrats and construction industries”.industries”.

Mr panchagatti, the former Chairman of the Karnatak Mr panchagatti, the former Chairman of the Karnatak Public service commission and Secretary of Irrigation Public service commission and Secretary of Irrigation in the state government said that there was no chance in the state government said that there was no chance that this project would reach completion within the that this project would reach completion within the projected time of ten years.projected time of ten years.

Among positive feedbacks was that of Mr MS Menon who Among positive feedbacks was that of Mr MS Menon who stated in his article “The Hindu” that out of the 4000 Billion stated in his article “The Hindu” that out of the 4000 Billion Cubic Centimeters of rainfall that India received, about 1900 Cubic Centimeters of rainfall that India received, about 1900 BCM ultimately reached the people and the rest was lost to BCM ultimately reached the people and the rest was lost to evaporation and seepage. Most of it happened within just evaporation and seepage. Most of it happened within just hundred hours a year mainly in the Ganga Brahmaputra basin hundred hours a year mainly in the Ganga Brahmaputra basin leading to floods. Interlinking would facilitate the channelling leading to floods. Interlinking would facilitate the channelling the excess waters to other areas where water was needed.the excess waters to other areas where water was needed.

In response to the allegation that no such project existed In response to the allegation that no such project existed anywhere else in the world, he also said that in india itself the anywhere else in the world, he also said that in india itself the Westren Yamuna Canal, the Agra Canal, the Kurnool-Westren Yamuna Canal, the Agra Canal, the Kurnool-Cuadappah canal and the Periyar-Vaigaicanal have been Cuadappah canal and the Periyar-Vaigaicanal have been helping the people residing in their respective basins.helping the people residing in their respective basins.

He also answers the allegations made that a centralised He also answers the allegations made that a centralised project such as this can not solve the widely dispersed water project such as this can not solve the widely dispersed water deficits by claiming that a nation the size of India can not deficits by claiming that a nation the size of India can not survive solely on the basis of small scale water harvesting survive solely on the basis of small scale water harvesting projcts suggested by the opposing party.projcts suggested by the opposing party.

Mr Menon then answers another Mr Menon then answers another objection put forth by the water rich objection put forth by the water rich states; that they do not have surplus states; that they do not have surplus waters. He says that with free and frank waters. He says that with free and frank negotiations it is possible to convince negotiations it is possible to convince these states to share their interest for the these states to share their interest for the benefit of the nation. Also, he feels that benefit of the nation. Also, he feels that arrangements can be made for the donor arrangements can be made for the donor states to receive compensations from the states to receive compensations from the receptor states in the form of cash or receptor states in the form of cash or electricity and agricultural produce.electricity and agricultural produce.

RESERVATIONS…RESERVATIONS… Of these, there are many.Of these, there are many. While Rajasthan is supportive of the Parbati – While Rajasthan is supportive of the Parbati –

Kalisindh – Chambal link, it says that it will not lend Kalisindh – Chambal link, it says that it will not lend full support until its own hydrology project is green lit.full support until its own hydrology project is green lit.

Gujarat has reservations based on the fact that; in Gujarat has reservations based on the fact that; in spite of water being the subject of each individual spite of water being the subject of each individual state’s interest, the Supreme Court did not take the state’s interest, the Supreme Court did not take the concerned states’ consent prior to green lighting the concerned states’ consent prior to green lighting the project.project.

Bihar has questioned if the increased food grain Bihar has questioned if the increased food grain production justifies the enormous costs of the project. production justifies the enormous costs of the project. It also questions if the “water deficient” states really It also questions if the “water deficient” states really have no water, if those states are using their available have no water, if those states are using their available water resources responsibly.water resources responsibly.

The state of Kerala opposes the idea based on The state of Kerala opposes the idea based on the fact that individual state’s consent was not the fact that individual state’s consent was not taken prior to the judgement.taken prior to the judgement.

The judgement itself admits that the states of The judgement itself admits that the states of Karnataka, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Sikkim Karnataka, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Sikkim have given conditional consents while taking have given conditional consents while taking into consideration the environmental and into consideration the environmental and financial implications and socio-economic financial implications and socio-economic aspects.aspects.

The judgement also reveals that the rivers The judgement also reveals that the rivers flowing through Bihar originate in Nepal which flowing through Bihar originate in Nepal which makes it essential to seek the neighbouring makes it essential to seek the neighbouring nation’s consent.nation’s consent.

POLITICAL DIVIDEPOLITICAL DIVIDE The BJP sees the project as a vindication of its The BJP sees the project as a vindication of its

vision. Blames the ruling Congress Party for vision. Blames the ruling Congress Party for having mismanaged its original vision in such having mismanaged its original vision in such a way that the project would not see that light a way that the project would not see that light of the day.of the day.

The Congress officials in the meanwhile say The Congress officials in the meanwhile say that the project is not environmentally safe.that the project is not environmentally safe.

Even then, the exact position of the party Even then, the exact position of the party hasn’t been officially clarified by the higher hasn’t been officially clarified by the higher authorities.authorities.

The parties supporting The Congress support The parties supporting The Congress support the project.the project.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Even though the project is an Even though the project is an excellent opportunity for our nation excellent opportunity for our nation to excel and solve many of our to excel and solve many of our current problems, it is also in some current problems, it is also in some ways an invitation to many more. ways an invitation to many more. Thus, even if this project is essential, Thus, even if this project is essential, in the current circumstances and in the current circumstances and financial situation of the nation, it is financial situation of the nation, it is unadvisable to go forward with it.unadvisable to go forward with it.

THANK YOU…THANK YOU…