DPR of Inter-Linking of Rivers of Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu ready

Out of 46 proposals of intra-state links received by National Water Development Agency  (NWDA) from nine States, the Burhi Gandak-Noon-Baya-Ganga Link of Bihar, Kosi-Mechi Link of Bihar, Ponnair-Palar Link of Tamil Nadu, Wainganga-Nalganga Link of Maharashtra and Barakar-Damodar-Subernarekha Link of Jharkhand have been taken up for the preparation of DPR by NWDA on the request made by the concerned States. The DPRs of two intra-state links i.e. Burhi Gandak-Noon-Baya-Ganga Link Project and Kosi-Mechi Link Project have been completed and sent to Government of Bihar in December, 2013 and March, 2014 respectively.

Based on the concurrence of the concerned States, three links namely Ken-Betwa Link,  Damanganga - Pinjal link and Par-Tapi-Narmada link have been taken up for the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) out of 30 interstate links identified under National Perspective Plan (NPP).  The DPR for Ken-Betwa Link Project and Damanganga - Pinjal link have been completed by NWDA, and submitted to the concerned States. DPR of Par-Tapi-Narmada link is in various stages of completion. Further, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its order dated 27.02.2012 has inter-alia directed to take up Ken-Betwa Link Project for implementation at the first instance itself.

Approximately 35 million hectare of additional irrigation potential and 34000 mega watts (MW) hydro power generation are the likely benefits envisaged under NPP apart from the incidental benefits of flood moderation, navigation, drinking water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc. 

        The details of objections raised by concerned State Governments for taking up FR/DPR of proposed inter-linking of river projects are as follows:-

S.No.	Name of Link Project	Concerned States	Objections raised
1	Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link	Tamil Nadu & Kerala	Kerala Assembly has passed a resolution against taking up of the Link Project (2003)
2	Parbati – Kalisindh – Chambal link	Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan	Govt. of Madhya Pradesh wants to implement intra-State Links in place of this Link Project.
3	Mahanadi (Manibhadra) – Godavari link	Odisha	Govt. of Odisha is not agreeable to this link Project due to large submergence of Manibhadra dam/reservoir and wants alternate diversion point.
4	Netravati – Hemavati link	Karnataka &TamilNadu	Govt. of Karnataka intends to utilize Netravati water as per its own plan.

Government has constituted a Consensus Group headed by the Chairman, Central Water Commission and Secretaries of Irrigation/Water Resource Departments of the concerned States for arriving at consensus on the links for sharing of the surplus water and preparation of DPR by NWDA. In addition, the issues on the inter-State links are also regularly discussed during the meeting of Governing Body and Society of the NWDA. Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti informed the Lok Sabha.