Inter-Linking of River Projects

The National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared by the then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) in August 1980 for water resources development through inter basin transfer of water, for transferring water from water surplus basins to water-deficit basins. Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component and 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs). The details of above river linking projects viz. Rivers, States concerned is given at Annexure.

Draft Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Godavari-Cauvery link project consisting of three links viz; Godavari (Inchampalli/Janampet) – Krishna (Nagarjunasagar), Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) – Pennar (Somasila), Pennar (Somasila)-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link projects has been completed by National Water Development Agency (NWDA) and circulated to party States in March 2019. The comments of party States have been deliberated in a virtual meeting held on 18.09.2020.

Since no inter-linking of river (ILR) projects, including the Godavari-Cauvery link project has reached the stage of execution, as such no funds have been allocated for the project

                 The Government is pursuing the inter-linking of rivers (ILR) program in a consultative manner. A “Special Committee on Interlinking of Rivers” has been constituted in September, 2014 for the implementation  of  ILR  programme.  Eighteen  meetings  of the Special Committee have been held so far.

Further, a Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers has been constituted by MoWR, RD & GR (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) in April, 2015 and twelve meetings of the Task Force have been held so far. Efforts have been made for building consensus among the concerned States and also setting out road maps for implementation of the projects.

     The Godavari-Cauvery link project is planned in two phases. Phase-I relates to identifying the surplus waters in Godavari basin without affecting the interests of the co-basin States and transferring these waters upto Cauvery through Godavari-Cauvery link project; and Phase-II relates to linking Brahmaputra-Ganga-Subernarekha-Mahanadi-Godavari rivers thus enriching the Phase-I with suitable modifications. The draft DPR of Godavari-Cauvery link has been prepared considering the Phase-I option only.

The Government of Tamil Nadu requested that the last leg of the Godavari-Cauvery link project, namely, Pennar-Palar-Cauvery link canal reach may be taken at higher elevation after crossing Palar river by pumping from Dusi Mamandur Tank and terminate at Kattalai barrage instead of Grand Anicut in Phase-I itself. A preliminary draft concept note has been prepared by NWDA on the suggested higher level canal alignment. However, the same is subject to establishing its techno-economic viability. Further, the Government of Tamil Nadu requested that the Poondi reservoir may be linked with Araniyar reservoir so that 609 tanks with a capacity of 15 TMC can be filled. However, integration of Araniyar reservoir with Poondi reservoir is linked with the firming up of Phase-II of the proposal.

The envisaged total diversion under Phase-I is only 247 TMC, out of which, after meeting the enroute requirements in Telanagana and Andhra Pradesh, only 83 TMC could be planned at Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border. Government of Tamil Nadu has requested for providing 200 TMC of water for meeting their water requirements in the Phase-I of the project itself. However, the possibility of providing additional quantum of water to Tamil Nadu is linked with water to be brought through Phase-II of the project

AnnexurE

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Unstarred Question No. 3736 to be answered in LOK Sabha on 18.03.2021 regarding “INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS PROJECTS”.

Names of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links, the States involved, name of rivers and status of Feasibility Reports/Detailed Project Report

$ Integration of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan and Parbati – Kalisindh – Chambal link.

• PFR- Pre  Feasibility Report
• FR- Feasibility Report
• DPR- Detailed Project Report

       This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Rattan Lal Kataria in Lok Sabha today.

BY/AS