The National Water Development Agency has formulated the latest version of the inter- basin transfer project. The plan has divided the project in to two broad components: (i) the Himalayan component with 14 river links and (ii) the peninsular component with 16 river links.

It is planned to transfer 141 km3/yr through the peninsular links for redistribution within peninsular India, and -33 km3/yr through the Himalayan links, essentially for redistribution in the Ganga basin and to Western India. Although huge amount of surplus water is available in the Brahmaputra and Brahmani-Baitarni basins, since major parts of these rivers flow at an elevation lower than the Ganga basin, only a small volume of water can be transferred from the Brahmaputra basin.

It is worth noticing that the major volume of water propose to be transferred through the project on interlinking of rivers is in the peninsular component, where major water deficits exist and/or are feared. Other important proposed links are Sarda to Yamuna, Yamuna to Rajasthan and Rajasthan to Sabarmati, bringing water to the parched land of western India.

It is thus clear that a major objective of the proposed inter-basin transfer of water is to meet requirements of highly water- deficit areas, where no other source is possible. The total volume of water (-174 km3/yr) proposed to be transferred through the two components is less than the combined water that can be made available (-300 km3/yr), through water.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Conservation, groundwater recharge and recycling efforts, but is critical for the areas where it is proposed to be transferred. These areas are already facing water-scarcity conditions. If the volume of water to be transferred through the proposed links is added, we get a healthy picture of -1660 km3/yr of developed water resource for the country that can take care of any exigencies.