India Advances Inter-Basin Water Transfer Plans: National Water Development Agency Reports Progress

New Delhi:  In a significant update on the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for inter-basin water transfer, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified and progressed on 30 links under the plan, aimed at optimizing water resources across the country. Out of these, 16 fall under the Peninsular Component, while 14 are part of the Himalayan Component. The NWDA has completed Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) for all 30 links, Feasibility Reports (FRs) for 24 links, and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 11 links.

The inter-linking of rivers (ILR) program, initiated under the National Perspective Plan in 1980, has been accorded top priority by the Government of India. To facilitate its implementation, a “Special Committee on Interlinking of Rivers” was formed in September 2014. The committee has held twenty-one meetings to date, demonstrating the consultative approach taken by the government. Additionally, a “Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers” was constituted in April 2015 to expedite ILR program works, and it has held eighteen meetings so far. The active participation of states in these meetings highlights the collaborative nature of the program.

The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP), the first ILR project, has seen implementation initiation following the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement among the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and the Government of India. The project received approval in December 2021, with an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605 crore (at the 2020-21 price level), including central support of Rs. 39,317 crore. Financial allocations and expenditures for the project during the fiscal years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 demonstrate the government’s commitment to the initiative.

The Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu, provided this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. The progress signifies a concerted effort to optimize water resources, address regional water scarcity, and foster sustainable water management practices in India.

The completion of FRs for projects like Mahanadi (Manibhadra) – Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link, Alternate Mahanadi (Barmul) – Rushikulya – Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link, Ganga(Farakka) – Damodar-Subarnarekha link, and Subarnarekha-Mahanadi link are going to help Odisha in navigating through its huge river ecosystems through this river interlinking program.