**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer given in Lok Sabha on 05.02.2026 regarding the status of the Scheme for Interlinking of Rivers (ILR). It outlines the progress made by the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), the formation of the Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers (SCILR), the processes involved in preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), and the status of various link projects, with a target completion date for the Ken-Betwa Link Project of March 2030. It highlights that implementation depends on consensus among States.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Progress of Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) Project:**
* NWDA has completed Pre-Feasibility Reports for all 30 identified link projects.
* Feasibility Reports (FRs) have been completed for 26 links.
* Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been completed for 13 links.
* Implementation depends on consensus among States, water allocation demands, and technical and environmental considerations.
* **Ken-Betwa Link Project:**
* Works have commenced with completion targeted for March 2030.
* **Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers (SCILR):**
* SCILR was constituted on 23.09.2014, as directed by the Supreme Court.
* The purpose of the committee is to review and facilitate planning and implementation of the ILR Programme.
* A total of twenty-four meetings of the Committee have been held so far.
* **Detailed Project Report (DPR) Preparation:**
* A structured process is followed for ILR projects, including Pre-Feasibility Studies, FR and DPR preparation, supported by surveys, investigations, and technical analyses.
* An Environmental Impact Assessment is undertaken for each project.
* A Memorandum of Understanding is signed among the concerned States for DPR preparation.
* The DPR is circulated to the party States for their views and finalized after incorporating suitable suggestions.
* Implementation proceeds only after consensus among States and signing of a Memorandum of Agreement.
* **Status of ILR Projects:**
* Annexure provides details of both Peninsular and Himalayan Component projects under the NPP, their beneficiaries and their status.
* Mahanadi(Manibhadra)-Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link FR completed.
* Godavari (Polavaram)-Krishna(Vijayawada) link has been taken up by the Andhra Pradesh goverment.
* Ken-Betwa Link DPR completed and is under implementation.
* Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar Link FR completed.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Central Government (Ministry of Jal Shakti, NWDA):**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overall planning, coordination, and execution of the ILR project.
* **Action Required:** Continue preparing reports, facilitating consensus among states, and overseeing implementation of projects.
* **State Governments:**
* **Impact:** Directly involved in the implementation of ILR projects within their territories, influencing water resource management and allocation.
* **Action Required:** Sign Memorandums of Understanding and Agreement, provide input on DPRs, and achieve consensus with other States for project implementation.
* **Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers (SCILR):**
* **Impact:** Charged with reviewing and facilitating the planning and implementation of the ILR program.
* **Action Required:** Continue to review and facilitate planning and implementation of the ILR Programme.
* **Environment:**
* **Impact:** Subject to environmental impact assessments and potential ecological changes due to river interlinking.
* **Action Required:** Ensure all projects undergo thorough Environmental Impact Assessments and that mitigation measures are implemented.
Key Entities Referenced
Interlinking of Rivers (ILR): A large-scale civil engineering project in India, that aims to link Indian rivers by a network of canals and reservoirs.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry primarily responsible for water resources.
National Perspective Plan (NPP): A comprehensive plan that outlines the vision and framework for water resources development in India, including the interlinking of rivers.
National Water Development Agency (NWDA): The agency responsible for carrying out detailed surveys and studies for the interlinking of rivers projects under the National Perspective Plan.
Ken-Betwa Link Project: A specific interlinking of rivers project cited as having commenced works.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1145
ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026
SCHEME FOR INTERLINKING OF RIVERS
†1145. SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of the scheme for interlinking of rivers;
(b) whether several interlinking of rivers projects are running behind their scheduled time-limit and if so,
the reasons therefor;
(c) the details of the meetings held so far of the High-Powered Committee constituted on the order of the
Supreme Court for the planning and implementation of interlinking of rivers;
(d) whether the said Committee has conducted any study regarding the feasibility of this project and the
assessment of its impacts on environment, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the action taken by the Government on the various Detailed Project Reports prepared with regard to the
river interlinking projects?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b) Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), the National Water Development Agency (NWDA)
has completed the Pre-Feasibility Reports for all 30 identified link projects, Feasibility Reports (FRs) for
26 links, and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 13 links.
The progress and implementation of Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects depend upon inter-State
consensus, as well as several factors such as demands for enhanced water allocations by recipient States,
and complex technical, environmental, and rehabilitation issues. These aspects collectively influence the
overall progress of ILR projects.
Further, works under the Ken–Betwa Link Project have commenced, with completion targeted for
March 2030. The consolidated status of all link projects is placed at Annexure.
(c) & (d) In compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court, a Special Committee for Interlinking of
Rivers (SCILR) was constituted on 23.09.2014 to review and facilitate planning and implementation of
the ILR Programme. A total of twenty-four meetings of the Committee have been held so far.
For ILR projects, a structured process is followed, beginning with Pre-Feasibility Studies, the
preparation of FR and DPRs, supported by detailed surveys, investigations, and technical analyses. An
Environmental Impact Assessment is undertaken for each project.
(e) For the preparation of DPRs, a Memorandum of Understanding is signed among the concerned States.
After preparation, the DPR is circulated to the party States for their views and is finalized after
incorporating their suitable suggestions. A project is taken forward for implementation only after
consensus is achieved among the States and a Memorandum of Agreement for implementation is signed
by them.
***
1ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.
1145 ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.02.2026 REGARDING “SCHEME FOR INTER-
LINKING OF RIVERS”.
Details and current status of ILR projects under the NPP
Peninsular Component
Sl. Name States benefited Status
No
1 Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari Andhra Pradesh (AP) and FR completed
(Dowlaiswaram) link Odisha
Alternate Mahanadi (Barmul)- AP and Odisha FR completed
Rushikulya–Godavari Dowlaiswaram)
link
2 Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna AP, Karnataka, Maharashtra FR Completed
(Vijayawada) link @ and Telangana
3 a.) Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna Telangana FR completed
(Nagarjunasagar) link
b.) Alternate Godavari (Inchampalli) - DPR completed
Telangana
Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link *
4 Godavari (Inchampalli/ SSMPP) - Telangana and AP DPR completed
Krishna (Pulichintala) link
5 a.) Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar AP FR completed
(Somasila ) link
b.)Alternate Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - DPR completed
AP
Pennar (Somasila ) link *
6 Krishna (Srisailam) – Pennar link AP DPR Completed
7 Krishna (Almatti) – Pennar link Karnataka &AP DPR completed
8 a.) Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand AP, Tamil Nadu and FR completed
Anicut) link Puducherry
b.) Alternate Pennar (Somasila) - AP, Tamil Nadu and
Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link * Puducherry DPR completed
9 Cauvery (Kattalai) - Vaigai -Gundar link Tamil Nadu DPR completed
10 Parbati –Kalisindh - Chambal link Madhya Pradesh (MP) and FR completed
Rajasthan
b) Modified Parbati – Kalisindh-Chambal MP and Rajasthan MoA for
link implementation has
been signed by both the
States
11 Damanganga - Pinjal link Maharashtra (only water DPR completed and
supply to Mumbai) dropped from status of
“priority links”
12 Par-Tapi-Narmada link Gujarat and Maharashtra DPR completed and
dropped from status of
“priority links”
13 Ken-Betwa link Uttar Pradesh (UP) and MP DPR completed and
project is under
implementation
14 Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link Tamil Nadu and Kerala FR completed
15 Bedti - Varda link @@ Karnataka DPR completed
16 Netravati – Hemavati link*** Karnataka PFR completed
2* Due to pending consensus on Manibhadra and Inchampalli dams, Phase-I of Project to divert unutilized
waters of Godavari river, Study was carried out and DPR of Godavari (Inchampalli) – Krishna
(Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila) – Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link projects (combined) called as
Godavari-Cauvery link was completed. The report has further been updated terminating the link canal at
Manimukhtanadi, a Tributary of Vellar river flowing adjacent to Cauvery basin.
@@ Bedti – Varda Link - DPR was prepared directly after preparation of its PFR, no FR was prepared.
@ Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada) Link- the project has been taken up by Govt. of Andhra
Pradesh and is under execution by Polavaram Project Authority.
*** Netravati – Hemavati link: Further studies not taken up after PFR preparation since after
implementation of Yettinahole project by Govt. of Karnataka, no surplus water is available in Netravati
basin for diversion through this link.
Himalayan Component
Sl. Name States / Countries benefited Status
No
1. Kosi-Mechi link** Bihar and Nepal PFR completed
2. Kosi-Ghaghra link Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and FR completed
Nepal
3. Gandak - Ganga link UP and Nepal FR completed
4. Ghaghra - Yamuna link UP and Nepal FR completed
5. Sarda - Yamuna link UP and Uttarakhand FR completed
6. Yamuna-Rajasthan link Haryana and Rajasthan FR completed
7. Rajasthan-Sabarmati link Rajasthan and Gujarat FR completed
8. Chunar - Sone Barrage link Bihar and UP FR completed
9. Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Bihar and Jharkhand Draft FR
Ganga link completed
10. Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga (M-S- Assam, West Bengal and Bihar FR completed
T-G) link
11. Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link Assam, WB and Bihar PFR completed
(Alternative to M-S-T-G) (The proposal has
been dropped)
12. Farakka-Sundarbans link WB FR completed
13. Ganga (Farakka) - Damodar- WB, Odisha and Jharkhand FR completed
Subarnarekha link
14. Subarnarekha-Mahanadi link WB and Odisha FR completed
Out of 30 link projects, 4 FRs are not required to be prepared:
**Kosi-Mechi Inter State link - PFR prepared and proposal was dropped due to international issues,
subsequently, on request of Govt. of Bihar, NWDA has taken up Kosi-Mechi Intra State link project.
Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link - PFR prepared and proposal dropped
Bedti - Varda link – DPR was prepared directly after preparation of its PFR, no FR was prepared.
Netravati – Hemavati link - Further studies after PFR preparation, are not taken up since after
implementation of Yettinahole project by Govt. of Karnataka, as no surplus water is available in
Netravati basin for diversion through this link.
*****
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