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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *95
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
INTERLINKING OF RIVERS AND MAJOR IRRIGATION PROJECTS
95. Smt. KIRAN CHOUDHRY:
Will the Minister of Jal Shakti be pleased to state:
(a) the status of river interlinking projects that recorded progress or approvals during the last three years;
(b) whether milestones have been achieved in priority links;
(c) whether environmental or rehabilitation issues have affected implementation schedules;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the manner in which cost sharing between the Centre and States is being managed; and
(f) the projected benefits in terms of irrigation and drinking water availability?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI C R PAATIL)
(a) to (f) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.
*95 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 IN RAJYA SABHA REGARDING “INTERLINKING OF
RIVERS AND MAJOR IRRIGATION PROJECTS”
(a) to (f) Government of India formulated National Perspective Plan (NPP) in year, 1980 for Inter-Basin
Water Transfer and 30 Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) Projects have been identified under NPP (16 link
projects under Peninsular component and 14 link projects under Himalayan component). National Water
Development Agency (NWDA) has been entrusted with the work of ILR.
The Details of link projects including the priority links, along with their projected benefits in terms
of irrigation and drinking water availability, that recorded progress or approvals during the last three years
is enclosed at Annexure.
The Ken-Betwa Link Project is the only priority link that has entered the implementation stage. It
has an estimated cost of ₹ 44,605 crore, with ₹ 39,317 crore of central support.
The Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP), which includes the Godavari (Polavaram)-Krishna
(Vijayawada) link, has an approved cost of ₹30,436.96 crore, with an approved Central share of
₹27,303.80 crore. The cumulative Central Assistance of ₹20,658 crore has been released to the Polavaram
Irrigation Project.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is undertaken for every interlinking of river project
during the preparation of FR and DPR to assess environmental and socio-economic impact. After
participating States sign implementation agreements, proposals are submitted for appraisal and
consideration of central support. A comprehensive EIA was taken up for Ken Betwa Link Project.
Environmental issues have not affected implementation schedule of this project.
The Cost-sharing arrangements between the Centre and States are not uniform and are determined
individually for each project.
***
2ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (f) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. *95 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING “INTERLINKING
OF RIVERS AND MAJOR IRRIGATION PROJECTS”
DETAILS OF LINK PROJECTS THAT RECORDED PROGRESS OR RECEIVED
APPROVALS DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS ALONG WITH ITS BENEFITS.
Sl. Name States Annual Domestic Hydro Year of Status
No benefit Irrigation & power completion of
ed (Lakh ha) Industrial (MW) FR/DPR
(MCM)
1. Ken-Betwa link Uttar 10.62 (UP- 194 103 DPR completed Govt. of India has
Project (KBLP) Prades 2.51 MP. - MW in 2018 approved the
h (UP) 8.11) (Hydro implementation of
& ) & KBLP in December
Madhy 27MW 2021 with an
a (Solar) estimated cost of Rs
Prades 44605 crore (year
h (MP) 2020-21 price level)
with central support
of Rs 36,290 crore
through a Special
Purpose Vehicle viz;
Ken Betwa Link
Project Authority
(KBLPA).
Honourable Prime
Minister has laid the
foundation stone for
project on
25.12.2024.
The project is to
complete by March
2030.
2. Godavari Telang 2.38 232 26 DPR completed 1. DPR for this
(Inchampalli) -ana in January, modified proposal
Krishna 2024 was circulated to
(Nagarjunasagar) party States in
link January 2024
3. Krishna Andhra 1.71 236 40 DPR completed 2. Draft MoA for
(Nagarjunasagar)- Prades in January, implementation was
Pennar h (AP) 2024 circulated among
(Somasila) link party states in April
4. Pennar AP 0.51 43
2024.
(Somasila) - DPR completed
Cauvery Tamil in January,
1.14 618
(Manimuktha) Nadu 2024
link Puduch
-- 62
erry
5. Modified Parbati-MP & Benefits as Benefits - MoA for Memorandum of
Kalisindh- Rajasth per MoA: as per implementation Understanding
Chambal link an MP - 6.11 MoA: has been signed (MoU) for
Rajasthan – MP-(71.39 in year 2024 preparation of DPR
4.03 drinking was signed by both
Total = +21.50 the States (MP and
10.15 lakh industrial) Rajasthan) on
3ha = 92.9 28.01.2024.
Rajasthan Memorandum of
–(1744.16 Agreement (MoA)
drinking + for implementation
205.75 has been signed in
industrial) December 2024.
= 1949.91 DPRs of components
Total = of Rajasthan have
2043 been completed and
MCM uploaded on e-PAMS
Portal of CWC.
6. Krishna (Almatti) Karnat 0.69 464.51 ---- DPR Completed in September 2025.
– Pennar link aka
AP 1.57 10.1- ----
Drinking
water
22.3-
Industrial
7. Bedti - Varda link Karnat 1.05 38 ---- DPR Presently, PFR of
aka completed alternate link has been
in submitted to State in
September August 2025.
2022.
8. Godavari Telang TOTAL Telangana 90.0 DPR completed in March 2024
(SSMP/Inchampa ana & 4.74 - 26.8
lli) -Krishna AP Telangana -
(Pulichintala) link 0.36
AP - 4.38 AP - 319.7
9. Godavari AP 4.36 665 960 DPR was Benefits included here
(Polavaram) - completed are the total benefit under
Krishna in 2005 Polavaram Irrigation
(Viayawada) link project.
(Polavaram
irrigation project)
10. Krishna AP 1.79 58 11 DPR
(Srisailam) – completed
Pennar link in March
2024
11. Kosi-Ghaghra Bihar, Total 8.35 0 -- FR
link U.P & Bihar- 6.05 completed
Nepal U.P- 1.20 in march,
Nepal -1.10 2023
12. Gandak - Ganga U.P & Total - 700 4375 FR
link Nepal 34.58 (Dam completed
U.P -28.80 PH) & in June
Nepal -5.78 180 2024
(Canal
PH)
13. Chunar-Sone Bihar Total - 0.60 -- -- FR
Barrage link & U.P Bihar - 0.10 completed in
U.P. - 0.49 September,
2025
*****
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