## Policy Summary: Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) Initiative
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Jal Shakti, is actively pursuing the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) program, based on the National Perspective Plan (NPP), to transfer water from surplus basins to deficit areas. The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) is responsible for implementing the ILR projects under the NPP, which encompasses 30 identified projects: 14 under the Himalayan Component and 16 under the Peninsular Component.
Progress to date includes completed Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) for all 30 link projects, Feasibility Reports (FRs) for 26 link projects, and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 11 link projects.
The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first ILR project under implementation, approved in December 2021 with an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605 crore (at 2020-21 price levels). The central government is providing Rs. 39,317 crore in support through the Ken Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA), a Special Purpose Vehicle created for this purpose. Work has commenced on the Daudhan dam, the main component of the project, and a Project Management Consultant has been hired to assist KBLPA.
The ILR projects aim to mitigate the effects of floods and droughts by diverting floodwater from surplus river basins to water-deficit regions, recharging groundwater tables, tanks, and canals.
In addition to the ILR initiative, the government supports state-level flood management and anti-erosion schemes through technical guidance and financial assistance. The Flood Management Programme (FMP), implemented during the XI and XII Five Year Plans, provided central assistance to states for flood control, anti-erosion, drainage improvement, and sea erosion protection. This was continued as part of the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) from 2017-18 to 2020-21 and extended up to 2026 with a limited financial outlay. Under the FMP component of FMBAP, 48 flood management projects, estimated at Rs. 1866.50 crore, have been included for implementation, with Rs. 924.40 crore released as central assistance to the Government of Bihar. The Ministry of Jal Shakti has also advised states to adopt flood plain zoning as a non-structural measure for flood damage mitigation.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. MAMSMP Lok Sabha US Q873Release ID: 2147818
Key Entities Referenced
National Perspective Plan: A plan formulated by the Government of India for InterLinking of Rivers (ILR) to transfer water from surplus basins to deficit basins/areas.
InterLinking of Rivers: A project under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) aimed at transferring water from surplus river basins to deficit river basins.
National Water Development Agency: The agency entrusted with the work of Interlinking of Rivers under the National Perspective Plan.
Ken-Betwa Link project: The first link of the National Perspective Plan that is under implementation.
Ken Betwa Link Project Authority: A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established for the implementation of the Ken-Betwa Link project.
Flood Management Programme: A Union Government implemented programme during the XI and XII Five Year Plans, offering central assistance to States for works related to flood control, antierosion, drainage improvement, and protection against sea erosion.
Flood Management and Border Areas Programme: A programme which included the Flood Management Programme (FMP) and was implemented from 2017-18 to 2020-21, and extended up to 2026.
Bihar: A State in India that has received central assistance for flood management projects under the FMP component of FMBAP.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS
Posted On: 24 JUL 2025 5:18PM by PIB Delhi
The Government of India has formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Inter-Linking of Rivers
(ILR) for transferring water from surplus basins to deficit basins/areas of the country. National Water
Development Agency (NWDA) has been entrusted with the work of Interlinking of Rivers under the NPP.
30 ILR projects have been identified under the NPP with two components, viz; Himalayan Component (14
projects) and Peninsular Component (16 projects). Detailed Projects Reports (DPRs) of 11 link projects,
Feasibility Reports (FRs) of 26 link projects and Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of 30 link projects have
been completed.
Details of the status of ILR projects under the NPP are given below.
Ken-Betwa Link project (KBLP): KBLP is the first link of NPP that is under implementation. The Govt. of
India has approved the implementation of KBLP in December, 2021 with an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605
crore (year 2020-21 price level) with central support of Rs. 39,317 crore through a Special Purpose Vehicle
viz. Ken Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA). Work for the main component of the project i.e.
Daudhan dam has been awarded. A Project Management Consultant has been hired for assisting KBLPA
for implementation of project.
The link projects under the NPP are judiciously planned and designed to, wherever possible, transfer water
from surplus basins to the deficit/water short basins and thus, mitigating the effects of floods and droughts
to some extent. The flood water from flood prone/water surplus river basins would be diverted to water
deficit regions and would also recharge ground water table, tanks and canals in the command areas.
Further, the Flood management and anti-erosion schemes are planned and executed by the respective State
Governments based on their priorities. To support these efforts, the Union Government provides both
technical guidance and promotional financial assistance for managing floods in critical areas.
In order to strengthen structural flood management measures, the Union Government implemented the
Flood Management Programme (FMP) during the XI and XII Five Year Plans, offering central assistance
to States for works related to flood control, anti-erosion, drainage improvement, and protection against sea
erosion. This initiative was subsequently continued as a component of the Flood Management and Border
Areas Programme (FMBAP) during the period 2017–18 to 2020–21, and was further extended up to 2026
with a limited financial outlay.
Under the FMP component of FMBAP, a total of 48 flood management projects—estimated at ₹1866.50
crore—have been included for implementation, out of which central assistance amounting to ₹924.40 crore
has been released to the Government of Bihar.
Further, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has advised all the States to adopt ans enforce flood plain zoning as a
non-structural measure to mitigate damage caused by floods.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ
BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
***
MAM/SMP
(Lok Sabha US Q873)(Release ID: 2147818)