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Did you know that Bharat Petroleum single-handedly manages an impressive 20,000-kilometer-long network of oil pipelines? These pipelines transport a staggering 125 million metric tons of crude oil annually. While we've laid pipelines to fuel our vehicles, the most essential resource for life-water-still struggles to reach every corner of the country.
Yes, we're talking about the ambitious River Inter-Linking Project by the Government of India. Do you remember it? Ever wondered how far this visionary project has progressed? Chances are, you haven't kept track. That's exactly why we're here-to bring you all the essential updates. Will give you the full ist of rivers to be connected and the states to get maximum benefit.
What is the Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR) Project?
The Government of India introduced the National Perspective Plan (NPP) in 1980 with an ambitious vision: to transfer surplus water from river basins with excess flow to regions grappling with water scarcity. This initiative aimed to address two critical challenges-curbing the devastating impact of annual floods and alleviating the hardships caused by droughts.
As part of the NPP, 30 Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR) projects were proposed. Of these, 16 fall under the Peninsular Rivers Component, while the remaining are part of the Himalayan Rivers Component.
Here is the list of Links between the Rivers and the states to get benefit
List of Rivers to be inter-linked in Peninsular Region
| Name of the Link | Country/ States benefited | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | a. Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link | Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Odisha |
| 2 | b. Alternate Mahanadi (Barmul) - Rushikulya – Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link | AP and Odisha |
| 3 | Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada) link | AP |
| 4 | a.) Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link | Telangana |
| 5 | b. Alternate Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link | Telangana |
| 6 | Godavari (Inchampalli / SSMPP) - Krishna (Pulichintala) link | Telangana and AP |
| 7 | a.) Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila) link | AP |
| 8 | b.) Alternate Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila) link | AP |
| 9 | Krishna (Srisailam) – Pennar link | AP |
| 10 | Krishna (Almatti) – Pennar link | AP and Karnataka |
| 11 | a.) Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link | AP, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry |
| 12 | b) Alternate Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link | AP, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry |
| 13 | Cauvery (Kattalai) - Vaigai - Gundar link | Tamil Nadu |
| 14 | a. Parbati –Kalisindh - Chambal link | Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Rajasthan |
| 15 | b. Modified Parbati – Kalisindh- Chambal link (duly integrated with ERCP) | MP & Rajasthan |
| 16 | Damanganga - Pinjal link | Maharashtra (only water supply to Mumbai) |
| 17 | Par-Tapi-Narmada link | Gujarat and Maharashtra |
| 18 | Ken-Betwa link | Uttar Pradesh (UP) and MP |
| 19 | Pamba - Achankovil – Vaippar link | Tamil Nadu and Kerala |
| 20 | Bedti - Varda link | Karnataka |
| 21 | Netravati – Hemavati link | Karnataka |
List of Rivers to be inter-linked in Himalayan Region
| Name of the Link | Country/ States benefited | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kosi-Mechi link | Bihar and Nepal |
| 2 | Kosi-Ghaghra link | Bihar, UP and Nepal |
| 3 | Gandak - Ganga link | UP and Nepal |
| 4 | Ghaghra - Yamuna link | UP and Nepal |
| 5 | Sarda - Yamuna link | UP and Uttarakhand |
| 6 | Yamuna-Rajasthan link | Haryana and Rajasthan |
| 7 | Rajasthan-Sabarmati link | Rajasthan and Gujarat |
| 8 | Chunar - Sone Barrage link | Bihar and UP |
| 9 | Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Ganga link | Bihar and Jharkhand |
| 10 | Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga (M-S- T-G) link | Assam, West Bengal (WB) and Bihar |
| 11 | Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link (Alternative to M-S-T-G) | Assam, WB and Bihar |
| 12 | Farakka-Sundarbans link | WB |
| 13 | Ganga(Farakka) - Damodar- Subarnarekha link | WB, Odisha and Jharkhand |
| 14 | Subarnarekha-Mahanadi link | WB and Odisha |
Benefits of Inter-linking the rivers
The Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR) project in India offers several potential benefits that can significantly impact the country's water management and overall development. Here are some key advantages:
1. Equitable Water Distribution:
Transfers surplus water from flood-prone areas to drought-affected regions, ensuring a more balanced distribution of water resources. Helps mitigate water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions.
2. Flood and Drought Mitigation: Reduces the frequency and intensity of floods in regions with excessive water flow. Provides a reliable water supply to drought-affected areas, reducing agricultural and livelihood losses.
3. Boost to Agriculture: Ensures year-round irrigation for farmland, increasing crop yields and enabling multiple cropping cycles. Supports farmers in regions that depend on erratic monsoons.
4. Improved Water Management: Creates a robust water storage and management system by linking reservoirs and rivers. Reduces the dependence on groundwater, helping to prevent over-extraction.
5. Enhanced Navigation and Transportation: Facilitates inland waterway development, promoting eco-friendly and cost-effective transportation of goods and passengers.
Encourages trade and connectivity in rural and remote areas.
6. Hydropower Generation: Increases the potential for hydropower projects by linking rivers with varying flow levels. Provides renewable energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
7. Eco-Tourism and Recreational Opportunities: Development of river-based tourism, including boating, cruises, and water sports, contributing to the local economy.
8. Climate Change Adaptation: Strengthens resilience to climate-induced water crises, such as erratic rainfall and extreme weather events.
9. Job Creation: Generates employment opportunities during construction and operational phases of the project. Supports ancillary industries such as construction, logistics, and tourism.
10. Enhanced Drinking Water Supply: Provides a consistent supply of water to urban and rural areas, improving access to safe drinking water.
While the ILR project has these benefits, it also requires careful consideration of environmental, social, and economic impacts to ensure sustainable and inclusive development.
