Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Jal Shakti addressed Lok Sabha Question No. 171 regarding interlinking of rivers (ILR) to address water shortage and improve irrigation. The government is implementing the National Perspective Plan (NPP), which includes 30 ILR projects nationwide. Three projects benefit Maharashtra and two benefit Madhya Pradesh, while no projects serve Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu. The Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is currently underway, with completion planned by March 2030.
Key Points / Main Content:
Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) Projects:
* The National Perspective Plan (NPP) includes 30 Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects to address water scarcity and improve irrigation.
* The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) is responsible for implementing ILR projects under the NPP.
* Maharashtra benefits from three ILR projects; Madhya Pradesh benefits from two. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu are not included in any ILR project.
* NWDA has received proposals to study 20 intrastate River linking projects in Maharashtra and has submitted pre-feasibility reports.
* Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for three intrastate link proposals in Maharashtra have been submitted by NWDA to the Government of Maharashtra: Wainganga-Goshikurd-Nalganga-Purna-Tapi, Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari Valley, and Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari link project.
Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP):
* KBLP is under implementation with an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605 crores.
* The project is scheduled for completion by March 2030.
Environmental and Social Concerns:
* Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are conducted for River Interlinking Projects.
* For KBLP, an Integrated Landscape Management Plan (ILMP) has been prepared to improve habitat quality and protect biodiversity within Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) and its surrounding ecologically sensitive zones.
* A Greater Panna Landscape Council (GPLC) has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, to ensure the systematic implementation of the ILMP.
Status and Benefits of ILR Projects:
* Damanganga-Pinjal link (Maharashtra): DPR completed; benefits include 895 Lakh ha irrigation and domestic water supply to Mumbai.
* Par-Tapi-Narmada link (Gujarat, Maharashtra): DPR completed; benefits include 2.28 Lakh ha irrigation in Gujarat and 0.04 Lakh ha in Maharashtra.
* Godavari-Krishna (Polavaram-Vijayawada link) (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana): Feasibility Report (FR) Completed; benefits include 1.94 Lakh ha irrigation and 33.41 MCM industrial water.
* Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan): Draft Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) completed; benefits to MP as per draft PFR.
* Ken-Betwa link (Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh): DPR completed, implementation started; benefits include 10.62 Lakh ha irrigation in UP and 2.51 Lakh ha in MP, along with domestic and industrial water supply.
Impact Analysis:
Government of India:
* Impact: Responsible for the overall planning, funding, and execution of the National Perspective Plan and Interlinking of Rivers projects.
* Action Required: Oversee the implementation of ILR projects by NWDA, ensure environmental and social concerns are addressed, and monitor the progress of the KBLP project.
National Water Development Agency (NWDA):
* Impact: Entrusted with the implementation of ILR projects under the NPP.
* Action Required: Continue to implement and monitor ILR projects, prepare feasibility reports and DPRs, and address environmental and social concerns.
Government of Maharashtra:
* Impact: Benefits from three ILR projects and several intrastate river linking projects.
* Action Required: Review and approve DPRs for intrastate link proposals submitted by NWDA.
Government of Madhya Pradesh:
* Impact: Benefits from two ILR projects, including the Ken Betwa Link Project, and is responsible for environmental management related to the project.
* Action Required: Ensure the systematic implementation of the ILMP through the Greater Panna Landscape Council.
Residents of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh:
* Impact: Potential beneficiaries of improved irrigation and water supply from ILR projects.
* Action Required: No immediate action required, but should be aware of project developments and potential impacts.
Environment and Wildlife:
* Impact: River interlinking projects can have significant environmental and social impacts, requiring careful assessment and mitigation.
* Action Required: Implement the Integrated Landscape Management Plan (ILMP) for the Ken Betwa Link Project to minimize environmental impacts and protect biodiversity.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for water resources and river development.
Maharashtra: A state in western India that would benefit from interlinking of rivers projects.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in central India that would benefit from interlinking of rivers projects.
National Perspective Plan (NPP): A plan formulated by the Government of India for interlinking of rivers to address water scarcity and improve irrigation.
National Water Development Agency (NWDA): The agency entrusted with implementing the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects under the National Perspective Plan (NPP).
Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP): A river interlinking project under the NPP, aimed at transferring water from the Ken River to the Betwa River.
Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR): A tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, India, whose surrounding ecologically sensitive zones are subject to biodiversity conservation under the Ken Betwa Link Project.
Greater Panna Landscape Council (GPLC): A council constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, to ensure systematic and timebound implementation of the Integrated Landscape Management Plan (ILMP).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *171
ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
INTER-LINKING OF RIVERS
†*171. DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE
SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has any proposal to inter-link the rivers to address water shortage and
improve irrigation in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and
Daman & Diu;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the estimated cost likely to be incurred and the timeline fixed for the implementation of the projects
thereunder in the said States/UTs, project-wise; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to address environmental and social concerns related to
the said projects, if any, in the said States/UTs?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI C R PAATIL)
(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.
*171 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING “INTER-LINKING OF
RIVERS”
(a) & (b) The Government of India has formulated the National Perspective Plan (NPP), under which 30
Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects have been identified to address water scarcity and augment irrigation
facilities across the country. The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has been entrusted with
implementing the ILR projects under the NPP.
There are three Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects benefiting the State of Maharashtra, and two
ILR projects benefiting the State of Madhya Pradesh. The details of ILR projects benefiting Maharashtra
and Madhya Pradesh are provided at Annexure. There is no River Interlinking project that serves Union
Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
In addition to above, NWDA has received proposals to study 20 intrastate River linking projects
in the state of Maharashtra. Prefeasibility reports have been prepared and submitted by NWDA. Further,
the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 3 intrastate link proposals viz; Wainganga (Goshikurd) – Nalganga
(Purna Tapi), Damanganga (Ekdare) – Godavari Valley and Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari link project,
have been prepared and submitted by NWDA to the Government of Maharashtra.
(c) Ken – Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the only project of NPP under implementation with an estimated
cost of Rs. 44,605 crores. The project is planned to be completed in span of 8 years by March 2030.
(d) To address environmental and social concerns of the River Interlinking Projects, the Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) is done. In case of Ken - Betwa Link Project, An Integrated Landscape
Management Plan (ILMP) has been prepared to improve habitat quality, maintain critical wildlife
corridors linking adjacent Protected Areas (PAs), and to enable the holistic protection and management of
flagship species—including tigers, vultures, and gharials—as well as promote biodiversity conservation
within Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) and its surrounding ecologically sensitive zones. To ensure systematic
and time-bound implementation of the ILMP, a Greater Panna Landscape Council (GPLC) has been
constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
***
2ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. *171 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025 REGARDING “INTER-LINKING OF
RIVERS”
Status and benefits of ILR projects benefiting Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
Sl. No Name States benefited Annual Domestic & Status
Irrigation Industrial
(Lakh ha) (MCM)
Maharashtra
1 Damanganga - Maharashtra -- 895 DPR completed
Pinjal link (only water
supply to
Mumbai)
2 Par-Tapi-Narmada Gujarat 2.28 76 DPR completed
link
Maharashtra --
0.04
3 Godavari Andhra Pradesh, 1.94 33.41 FR Completed
(Polavaram) - Karnataka,
Krishna Maharashtra and
(Vijayawada) link Telangana
Madhya Pradesh
1 Modified Parbati – Madhya Pradesh 3.38 (as per As per draft Draft Pre Feasibility
Kalisindh- (MP) and draft PFR) PFR: Report (PFR)
Chambal link Rajasthan completed
(duly integrated MP – 2.58
Rajasthan-
with ERCP)
Domestic-1723
Rajasthan-
MCM
0.8
Industrial-286
MCM
MP-Domestic-36
MCM
2 Ken-Betwa link Uttar Pradesh 10.62 194 DPR completed &
and Madhya (2.51 +8.11) implementation has been
Pradesh started
*****
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