The Ken-Betwa River Link Project, a flagship initiative to address water scarcity in Bundelkhand, brings promises of irrigation, drinking water, and power but also raises ecological and socio-economic concerns, including biodiversity loss and regional displacement.
Studies warn that river interlinking could exacerbate climate impacts, disrupt natural ecosystems, and alter rainfall patterns, underscoring the need for sustainable, localized water management over large-scale geoengineering.
Foundation Of Ken-Betwa River Link Project
On December 25, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ken-Betwa River Link Project. This initiative aims to address water scarcity in the Bundelkhand region, which spans parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
A dam within the Panna Tiger Reserve is part of the project, raising concerns about its environmental impact. Once completed, the project will connect the Ken River, considered water-rich, to the water-deficient Betwa River in Bundelkhand.
This region, known for its 58% forest cover in 1938, has faced drought challenges.
Historical Background
Early Proposals
The idea of inter-basin water transfer dates back 130 years. Sir Arthur Cotton initially proposed it while designing irrigation dams in the Godavari and Krishna river valleys.
Later, Indian engineer M. Visvesvaraya improved upon this concept. In the 1970s and 1980s, K.L. Rao and Captain Dinshaw J. Dastur expanded its scope, calling it the “National Water Grid.”
Development Of River Interlinking
Renamed the “River-Interlinking Project” (ILR), the Ministry of Water Resources proposed transferring surplus water from the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers to central and southern India’s drought-prone areas.
In 1982, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) was created to study and plan these transfers. It identified 30 potential river links—14 in the Himalayas and 16 in Peninsular India—aiming to address floods, droughts, and rural water needs.
Current Efforts In River Interlinking
- Supreme Court Directive: In 2002, the Supreme Court ordered the government to complete river interlinking within 12–15 years. A task force involving scientists, engineers, and ecologists was established to oversee the process.
- National Water Development Agency: The NWDA, operating under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) of 1980, manages river interlinking.
Did You Know?
Hashim Commission Report (2004-05): This report identified the rivers and specific locations where water surpluses could be transferred, the recipient rivers, and the factors influencing such transfers.
National Water Policy (NWP) 2012: This policy emphasized water as an economic good to encourage its conservation and efficient utilization. It was designed to guide the planning, development, and optimal use of water resources.
Components Of The National Perspective Plan
- Himalayan Rivers Development: This includes 14 projects aimed at transferring water from Himalayan rivers to northern and eastern India.
- Peninsular Rivers Development: This involves 16 projects to link southern rivers. It focuses on diverting surplus water from the Mahanadi and Godavari rivers to the Krishna, Pennar, and Cauvery rivers.
- Progress on Key Projects: Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) are completed for all 30; Feasibility Reports (FRs) are completed for 24; Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are completed for 8.
- Notable Projects: The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first to be implemented under the NPP. It aims to irrigate 10.62 lakh hectares annually, supply drinking water to 62 lakh people, and generate 130 MW of power. Other priority projects include the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) Link and the Godavari-Cauvery Link.
Need For Inter-Basin Water Transfers
- Addressing Water Imbalances: Water transfers help regions with water scarcity by utilizing surplus water from other areas. They balance uneven rainfall, reduce water wastage, and ensure water availability where needed.
- Climate Change Mitigation: Inter-basin transfers can help manage short- and long-term impacts of climate change on water resources.
- Equitable Water Distribution: This ensures water availability in both drought-prone and flood-affected regions.
- Enhanced Agriculture: Irrigation improvements lead to higher agricultural output and income in rural areas.
- Drinking Water Access: Millions benefit from reliable drinking water supplies.
- Renewable Energy: Hydropower projects under the initiative contribute to clean energy generation.
Challenges And Concerns
Ecological Imbalance
Human-induced changes in natural river systems disrupt ecological balance, destroying habitats and ecosystems.
Such disturbances harm biodiversity and can have long-term negative impacts on society, creating challenges for future generations.
Climate change, affecting rainfall and river flow, may worsen these issues. There is also a contradiction between policies aimed at mitigating climate change and those promoting river manipulation.
Misconception Of Surplus Water
The belief that rivers have “free” surplus water is flawed. Rivers play a crucial role in maintaining eco-hydrological systems, including sustaining deltaic plains and coastal regions.
Water labeled as “lost to the sea” is vital for flushing silt, forming fertile deltas, and supporting biodiversity.
Floodwaters carry minerals that improve soil fertility, recharge groundwater, and support the livelihoods of marginalized communities. Diverting this water disrupts these essential processes.
Deltaic Ecosystems At Risk
River diversion deprives deltas of freshwater needed to balance saltwater intrusion. For instance, the Indus Delta, once the richest in Pakistan, suffered ecological and economic decline due to river barrage constructions.
Similar consequences are expected for other deltas, threatening biodiversity and local livelihoods.
Key Facts
- 1,400 cubic meters: Current per capita availability of water in India, impacted by global warming, population growth, pollution, and land-use changes.
- 1,200 cubic meters: The projected per capita water availability by 2050, as per the Central Water Commission.
- A significant portion of India is already classified as water-stressed.
Specific Challenges
- Loss of Biodiversity: Interlinking rivers alters their natural flow, impacting aquatic ecosystems and habitats. For example, the Ken-Betwa River Link Project involves building a dam within the Panna Tiger Reserve, endangering species and biodiversity in the area.
- High Financial Costs: The cost of implementing river interlinking projects is significant. The Ken-Betwa Project alone is estimated to cost ₹45,000 crore. Such projects often face objections due to financial viability and legal challenges, particularly regarding hydroelectric power.
- Inter-State Disputes: Water is a state subject under the Indian Constitution (List II of the Seventh Schedule), but inter-state rivers fall under the Central Government’s jurisdiction (List I of the Seventh Schedule). This creates conflicts between states over water usage for irrigation, canals, and power generation. Resolving such disputes is a major challenge for these projects.
- Socio-Economic Impacts: The massive ₹5.5 lakh crore estimated cost of river interlinking does not include social, environmental, and operational expenses. These hidden costs are likely to increase the burden on taxpayers. Large-scale projects also displace communities, disrupt livelihoods, and destroy cultural heritage, creating significant social challenges.
- Displacement of Communities: River interlinking requires resettlement of affected communities. The process is often inadequate and unfair, leading to social and economic difficulties for displaced people.
- Climate Change Impacts: Altering river systems can exacerbate climate-related issues, such as more frequent and intense floods or droughts. Vulnerable regions may face greater challenges due to these changes.
- Deforestation and Habitat Loss: The construction of canals and reservoirs for river linking requires large-scale deforestation, resulting in habitat loss for wildlife. It also increases risks of soil erosion and degradation, further harming the environment.
Potential Impact On Indian Monsoon
River Interlinking and Monsoon Alteration
A recent study, “River Interlinking Alters Land-Atmosphere Feedback and Changes the Indian Summer Monsoon,” published in Nature Communications, reveals that large-scale river interlinking projects could significantly affect the Indian summer monsoon.
These projects, designed to transfer water between surplus and deficit basins, are being implemented without fully understanding their hydro-meteorological impacts.
Rainfall Reduction in September
The study highlights that increased irrigation using transferred water can reduce rainfall in September by up to 12% in already water-stressed regions.
The drying effect is more pronounced during La Niña years compared to El Niño years. This reduced precipitation could exacerbate water stress by drying up rivers post-monsoon, potentially undermining the effectiveness of river interlinking projects.
Key Findings
- Timing of Impact: Rainfall in June, July, and August remains largely unaffected, but a significant decline occurs in September.
- Affected Regions: Highest Rainfall Decline: Odisha (12%), Andhra Pradesh (10%), Rajasthan and Gujarat (9%); Moderate Decline: Central India, including the core monsoon zone (8%), western Himalayan foothills in Uttarakhand, and east-central India (6.4%).
- Rainfall Increase: Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh could see an increase of 12%, while parts of Maharashtra and Telangana may experience a rise of 10%.
- Land-Atmosphere Interactions: The study underscores that river basins are not isolated systems. Moving water between them can influence atmospheric water dynamics. By altering soil moisture, heat, and evapotranspiration, river interlinking affects recycled precipitation, which contributes to about 25% of monsoon rainfall. Increased evapotranspiration in irrigated areas can lead to drier conditions in arid regions while increasing rainfall in others.
Global Examples of River Channelisation
The Kissimmee River Disaster
The Kissimmee River in Florida is a cautionary tale of the environmental costs of river channelisation. In 1954, the U.S. Congress authorised the river’s channelisation to reduce flooding. However, this intervention caused significant environmental damage, leading to the loss of wetlands and the collapse of the region’s ecosystem. Today, massive resources are being spent to restore the river to its original, natural configuration.
The Tragedy of the Aral Sea
The Aral Sea, once one of the largest lakes in the world, illustrates the devastating impact of geoengineering on natural water systems. During the Soviet Union era, the rivers feeding the Aral Sea were diverted for large-scale irrigation projects. This diversion led to the lake drying up, transforming it into a barren desert. The loss of the Aral Sea is a stark reminder of how poorly planned engineering projects can destroy ecosystems and create lasting environmental disasters.
Lessons Learned
These examples highlight the need for cautious planning and environmental consideration in large-scale water management projects. They serve as reminders of the irreversible damage that can result from prioritizing short-term gains over long-term ecological balance.
India’s Escalating Water Crisis
Causes Of The Crisis
India’s water crisis is worsening due to poor water management, weak environmental practices, legal ambiguities, and corruption. The lack of a cohesive strategy to manage water resources has exacerbated the situation, leaving many regions vulnerable to scarcity and misuse.
Need For A Holistic National Water Policy
A national water policy should adopt a comprehensive approach to watershed management. Local citizens should be actively involved in monitoring the hydrological cycle, working collaboratively with hydrologists, engineers, and biologists.
Effective aquifer management must include the regulation of water use, while farmers should be engaged to develop efficient irrigation strategies.
Improving Wastewater Management
India’s approach to wastewater management is limited. Innovative reuse programs are essential to address this gap. Such programs can help conserve water while reducing the environmental impact of untreated wastewater.
Importance Of River Basin Studies
Before initiating large-scale water transfer projects, interdisciplinary studies involving hydrologists, ecologists, and other experts are crucial. These studies can provide a better understanding of river basins, ensuring that decisions are informed by science and sustainability.
Lessons From Israel’s Water Management
- Drip Irrigation Success: Israel has revolutionized water resource management through drip irrigation techniques, saving 25%-75% of pumped water. These methods compel farmers to use less water, fertilisers, and pesticides, ensuring optimal aquifer health.
- Integrating Traditional Practices: In addition to modern techniques, India should incorporate vernacular practices into watershed management. These traditional methods, adapted to local climates and ecosystems, can complement modern interventions.
Rethinking River Interlinking
- Environmental and Socio-Economic Costs: The concept of interlinking rivers to solve water scarcity is appealing but overlooks significant environmental and socio-economic consequences. These projects can lead to ecological disruption, displacement of communities, and financial burdens.
- Focus on Sustainable Alternatives: Instead of relying on large-scale infrastructural projects, India must prioritize sustainable, localized solutions. This involves addressing the complex interplay between climate, ecosystems, and water resources.