India’s River Linking Programme currently covers 30 Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects under the National Perspective Plan. The projects aim to support inter-basin water transfer and are at different stages of planning and development.
Of the 30 projects, 16 fall under the Peninsular component and 14 under the Himalayan component. The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) remains the only priority ILR project currently under implementation. Other projects have progressed through feasibility studies, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and pre-feasibility assessments.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
Ken-Betwa project leads implementation
The Ken-Betwa Link Project is currently the only priority river-linking project that has reached the implementation stage. The project has an estimated cost of ₹44,605 crore.
The project aims to provide irrigation to around 11.88 lakh hectares and drinking water to nearly 62 lakh people. It also envisages 103 MW of hydropower generation and 27 MW of solar power generation.
The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) handles implementation-related work for the Interlinking of Rivers programme.
Peninsular projects at different stages
Several projects under the Peninsular component have progressed through feasibility reports and DPR preparation. These include the Godavari-Krishna, Krishna-Pennar, Pennar-Cauvery, Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar and Bedti-Varda links.
The Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link has also moved forward. The participating states have signed a Memorandum of Agreement for its implementation.
Some proposed links have moved out of the priority category. These include the Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada links.
The Polavaram Irrigation Project, which incorporates the Godavari-Polavaram-Krishna-Vijayawada link, has a separate status as a National Project. The Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Polavaram Project Authority have completed the project.
The Centre has provided cumulative financial assistance of ₹20,658 crore for the Polavaram project. The project envisages irrigation and water supply benefits along with 960 MW of hydropower generation.
Himalayan projects continue through feasibility and DPR stages
The Himalayan component covers 14 projects. Several of these have reached feasibility or DPR stages.
Projects including the Kosi-Ghaghra, Gandak-Ganga, Ghaghra-Yamuna, Sarda-Yamuna, Yamuna-Rajasthan and Rajasthan-Sabarmati links are progressing through various stages of assessment and planning.
Some proposals have also been dropped. These include the Kosi-Mechi Inter-State link and the Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka alternative. The government cited specific state and international considerations for these decisions.
Environmental assessment and rehabilitation
Environmental assessment forms part of the planning process for river-linking projects. The government has said that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is incorporated into feasibility reports and DPRs for ILR projects.
For the Ken-Betwa project, authorities have completed a comprehensive EIA and an Integrated Landscape Management Plan.
Projects that receive approval also incorporate provisions for land acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R). Implementation remains subject to applicable environmental and forest clearances as well as rehabilitation and resettlement requirements.
River linking programme remains at different stages
The latest status shows that India’s River Linking Programme remains spread across multiple stages of development. While the Ken-Betwa project has entered implementation, most other links continue through feasibility studies, DPR preparation, environmental assessments and discussions between participating states.
The programme therefore remains a long-term water infrastructure initiative, with individual projects moving forward based on technical assessments, state participation, environmental requirements and other statutory clearances.
