Indian river Interinking Project and its effect on the Subcontinent

Is river interlinking really going to help?


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W.G.Ewald

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Do not tinker with the nature without understanding the ramifications. These rivers are not just waterways, but self-contained ecosystems- harbouring different species of flora and fauna and I believe even the water pH should be different.

This is not like rivers emptying into the sea, as association honed over eons and the ecosystem given time to adapt and thrive. Indiscriminate diversion of river waters will have some serious consequences.
Have any ecological studies been done?
 

Simple_Guy

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Linking of rivers takes shape in Rajasthan, Brahmani to be connected to Banas - The Times of India

Rajasthan has kicked off preparations for first interlinking project in the state to address its drinking water and irrigation requirements.

To tap rain water going waste every monsoon, the Brahmani and Banas rivers are proposed to be interlinked by digging a tunnel between the two. Work has been allotted to PDCOR (a company jointly promoted by the Government of Rajasthan and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited), which is conducting a detailed study on how to bring water from the Brahmani river to Bisalpur.

Chambal river originates in Madhya Pradesh and enters Rajasthan at Chaurasigarh of Chittorgarh district. As the Chambal river moves in the state, it enters Kota district from Chittorgarh. In Chittorgarh's Rawatbhata, there is a Rana Pratap dam on Chambal river. During monsoon, huge amount of water gathers in the catchment area of the dam. There is a plan to lift the rain water collected in the catchment area of the dam through pumps to transfer it in Brahmani dam, which will be some 17 kilometers away from the pump station in Rana Pratap dam's catchment area. This will add up more water in the Brahmani dam to be transferred to Bisalpur dam.

Another challenge before the government is to take clearance from environment, forest departments and some sanctuaries for the project-including crocodile and Jawahar Sagar sanctuary.

There is a pact between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan government on Chambal water. The left main canal (LMC) of Chambal river supplies water for irrigation in Bundi and Kota region while the right main canal of Chambal river supplies water in MP for irrigation. The project has to be designed in such a way that it does not affect the pact by "disturbing" Chambal river.
 

sorcerer

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Modi's $87 billion river-linking scheme set to take off as floods hit India

Highlights
  • All clearances received for first phase on Modi's orders
  • BJP-ruled states moving faster on river-linking projects
  • The river-linking projects was first proposed in 2002 by the last BJP-led government

DAUDHAN: After years of foot-dragging India will begin work in around a month on an $87 billion scheme to connect some of the country's biggest rivers , government sources say, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi bets on the ambitious project to end deadly floods and droughts.

The mammoth plan entails linking nearly 60 rivers, including the mighty Ganges, which the government hopes will cut farmers' dependence on fickle monsoon rains by bringing millions of hectares of cultivatable land under irrigation.


In recent weeks, some parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal have been hit by the worst monsoon floods in years, following two years of poor rainfall.

Modi has personally pushed through clearances for the first phase of the project - which would also generate thousands of megawatts of electricity - the sources say, despite opposition from environmentalists, tiger lovers and a former royal family.

That will involve construction of a dam on the Ken river, also known as the Karnavati, in north-central India and a 22-km (14-mile) canal connecting it to the shallow Betwa+ .

Both rivers flow through vast swathes of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states, ruled by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the prime minister hopes the Ken-Betwa scheme will set a template for other proposed river interlinking projects, one of the sources said.




A view of Gangau dam in Daudhan village in the central state of Madhya Pradesh (Reuters Photo)

"We have got clearances in record time, with the last round of clearances coming in only this year," Sanjeev Balyan, told Reuters. "The Ken-Betwa interlinking tops the priority list of the government."

Government officials say diverting water from bounteous rivers such as the Ganges, Godavari and Mahanadi to sparse waterways by building a clutch of dams and a network of canals is the only solution to floods and droughts.

But some experts say India would be better off investing in water conservation and better farm practices. Environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts have also warned of ecological damage.

BJP STATES FIRST

The 425-km (265-mile) Ken flows through a tiger reserve nestled in a verdant valley. The government plans to clear out 6.5 percent of the forest reserve to build the dam, relocating nearly 2,000 families from 10 remote villages.

Around half a dozen clearances, including on environmental and forest protection, have been obtained for the scheme to link the Ken and Betwa, according to two sources and documents seen by Reuters.

Modi's cabinet is likely to give its final go-ahead for the project within a couple of weeks, sources say, after which he will flag off construction at the site about 805 km (500 miles) from New Delhi, currently marked only by rows of red concrete slabs placed on the ground.

The government is also finishing up paperwork on projects in western India linking the Par-Tapi with the Narmada and the Daman Ganga with the Pinjal. The projects involve Modi's home state of Gujarat and neighbouring Maharashtra, which includes Mumbai, both also ruled by the BJP.

The river-linking projects was first proposed in 2002 by the last BJP-led government. Work stalled because state governments sparred over water sharing contracts and clearances got stuck in India's notoriously ponderous bureaucracy.

This time, officials hope starting with projects that are all in BJP-ruled states will smooth negotiations.


Modi's government is touting the linking of rivers as a panacea to the floods and droughts that plague India every year, killing hundreds of poor people and withering crops.

Large areas of eastern and north-eastern India are reeling under floods in which hundreds have died, while torrential rain also brought the commercial capital Mumbai to a standstill this week. The southern state of Tamil Nadu, in contrast, recently rationed drinking water due to drought.

Not everyone is convinced the projects should be the priority, however.

"Theoretically we can't find fault with the plan," said Ashok Gulati, a farm economist who has advised governments. "But spending billions of dollars in a country which wastes more water than it produces, it makes more sense to first focus on water conservation."

India, which has 18 percent of the world's population but only 4 percent of the usable water resources, perversely gives incentives to produce and export thirsty crops such as rice and sugar cane.

TIGERS, VULTURES AND CANYONS

The proposed 77-metre high (250-ft), 2-km long dam on the Ken River will submerge 9,000 hectares of mostly forest land. A big portion will come from the Panna Tiger Reserve, near the UNESCO world heritage site of Khajuraho Temple in Madhya Pradesh.

The forest reserve, a major tourist attraction, is home to 30-35 tigers and nearly 500 vultures.

Authorities say they have planned for the safety of tigers and vultures.

People in Daudhan village, not very far from the Gangau dam built by the British in 1915, are ambivalent. With no access to electricity and other basic services, they want more information on what they will get in return for being displaced.

"We never got to see electricity in our village," said village elder Munna Yadav, gesticulating towards the Ken flowing a few metres from his thatched cottage. "If our children get to move out of this area and if the dam benefits everyone, we'll not oppose it."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-as-floods-hit-india/articleshow/60319656.cms
 

F-14B

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if this linking is done on a war footing and the water is given to the south then the Southern hinterland will be happy as hell this schem can also help water starved regions of my state like palaghat
 

Razor

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if this linking is done on a war footing and the water is given to the south then the Southern hinterland will be happy as hell this schem can also help water starved regions of my state like palaghat
Is it possible to link rivers on either side of western ghats? Curious....
 

IndianHawk

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if this linking is done on a war footing and the water is given to the south then the Southern hinterland will be happy as hell this schem can also help water starved regions of my state like palaghat
It has already started in South. Godavari water is being pumped into Krishna already. Centre has also allocated money for fast completion of polavaram project.

Ken - betwa in mp and up are next to be linked.
 

Razor

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Why western Ghats?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
F14b says he would like to see northern rivers linked to Palakkad region (south in general)
I was wondering if and how will rivers be linked through mountain ranges??
 

IndianHawk

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Is it possible to link rivers on either side of western ghats? Curious....
Not any big river on western side of western ghat. Also not much population that side. Only few big cities which will be better off with de-salination of sea water .
Israel styles.
 

IndianHawk

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F14b says he would like to see northern rivers linked to Palakkad region (south in general)
I was wondering if and how will rivers be linked through mountain ranges??
First rivers will be linked in Himalayan region and penisular region separately.

In the end a links will be established between both regions.

For example ken-betwa is beginning of peninsular region. But it's easier to connect them further to yamuna in the Himalayan region.
 

Razor

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Not any big river on western side of western ghat. Also not much population that side. Only few big cities which will be better off with de-salination of sea water .
Israel styles.
Yeah you're probably right.
But what I was asking is it possible to link say the Krishna river which originates on eastern side of western ghats to say the bharathapuzha river, which runs through western side of western ghats.
Is it possible/feasible to do that?
 

IndianHawk

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Yeah you're probably right.
But what I was asking is it possible to link say the Krishna river which originates on eastern side of western ghats to say the bharathapuzha river, which runs through western side of western ghats.
Is it possible to do that?
Technologically yes , but economically no.!!
Western ghats are steep and continuous.
It will be very expensive to cut pipeline through them. Cost would be far greater than benefits.
 

sorcerer

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F14b says he would like to see northern rivers linked to Palakkad region (south in general)
I was wondering if and how will rivers be linked through mountain ranges??
Doesnt kerala which is the size of a small scalene triangle!! already have 44 rivers and gets 6 months of rain on a good monsoon.
But its the lack of proper water managment results in drought every year..almost..in Kerala

I suppose Northern rivers should be linked to more agriculture intense states and Kerala should have a system to manage own blessings which are so many rivers in a small place.

If needed be tunnels can be built through the western ghats.i suppose there is a project already "SHELVED and gaining lots and lots of dust " :D the result of proactive politicians which plans to make a 9 km tunnel through western ghats.!!
 

Razor

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Technologically yes , but economically no.!!
Western ghats are steep and continuous.
It will be very expensive to cut pipeline through them. Cost would be far greater than benefits.
Okay got it. Thanks.
. .
 

KumarG

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Connect Indus to a downstream-flowing Indian river and we would all be ready to jizz, am I right? :drool:
 

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