STATUS OF NATIONAL RIVERS INTERLINKING PROGRAMME
Issued by Ministry of Jal Shakti
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on 10th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
Executive Summary The document provides a status update on the National Rivers Interlinking Programme (ILR) under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), which identifies 30 river-linking projects across Peninsular and Himalayan components. It details the implementation progress of priority projects like the Ken-Betwa Link and the Polavaram Irrigation Project, emphasizing environmental assessments and socio-economic safeguards. The report was issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on August 10, 2026.
Key Points / Main Content
Program Overview and Management
- The National Perspective Plan (NPP) identifies 30 ILR projects: 16 under the Peninsular component and 14 under the Himalayan component.
- The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) is the body entrusted with the execution of the ILR program.
- Every project requires the preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs), Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
Implementation of Priority Projects
- Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP): This is the only priority link project currently in the implementation stage, with an estimated cost of ₹44,605 crore.
- Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP): Classified as a National Project, it is executed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Polavaram Project Authority, receiving ₹20,658 crore in Central Assistance.
- KBLP Benefits: Targeted to provide irrigation to 11.88 lakh hectares, drinking water to 62 lakh people, 103 MW of hydropower, and 27 MW of solar power.
- PIP Benefits: Aims to irrigate 7.2 lakh acres, divert 80 TMC of water to the Krishna basin, and provide domestic water supply to 28.5 lakh people in 611 villages.
Environmental and Social Safeguards
- Comprehensive EIAs and Integrated Landscape Management Plans (ILMP) are completed for KBLP to manage biodiversity and catchment areas.
- All ILR projects must include Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) components in their sanctioned structures.
- Project execution is mandated to conform to forest-clearance and environmental provisions.
Project Status Highlights (Annexure)
- Peninsular: Several links (e.g., Godavari-Krishna, Krishna-Pennar) have completed DPRs; others like Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada have been dropped from "priority link" status.
- Himalayan: Most projects (e.g., Gandak-Ganga, Ghaghra-Yamuna) have completed Feasibility Reports, while the Kosi-Mechi Inter-State link was dropped due to international dimensions.
Impact Analysis
Central Government (Ministry of Jal Shakti / NWDA)
- Impact: Responsible for the strategic oversight, funding, and technical study of the 30 identified links.
- Action Required: Monitor the progress of KBLP and PIP while continuing the technical evaluation (FRs/DPRs) of the remaining Peninsular and Himalayan links.
State Governments (e.g., Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh)
- Impact: Directly involved in project execution, signing Memorandums of Agreement (MoA), and managing local water distribution.
- Action Required: Ensure project execution conforms to environmental, forest-clearance, and R&R provisions within their respective jurisdictions.
Local Populations and Farmers
- Impact: Significant benefits through expanded irrigation, stabilized water systems, and reliable drinking water supplies; however, they are subject to land acquisition.
- Action Required: Affected residents must engage with the Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) components included in the project structures.
Environmental and Conservation Bodies
- Impact: Projects necessitate large-scale ecological management and biodiversity conservation efforts.
- Action Required: Oversee the implementation of the Integrated Landscape Management Plans and monitor long-term environmental parameters.
Key Entities Referenced
National Rivers Interlinking Programme: A nationwide initiative for inter-basin water transfer involving 30 identified river link projects across the Peninsular and Himalayan components.
National Perspective Plan (NPP): The foundational policy framework formulated by the Government of India for identifying and developing inter-basin water transfer links.
National Water Development Agency (NWDA): The nodal agency entrusted with the technical work, feasibility studies, and implementation oversight of the Interlinking of Rivers projects.
Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP): The first priority link project under the NPP to enter the implementation stage, aimed at providing irrigation, drinking water, and power.
Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP): A designated National Project incorporating the Godavari-Krishna link, executed to provide massive irrigation, domestic water supply, and hydropower.
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Ministry of Jal Shakti
STATUS OF NATIONAL RIVERS INTERLINKING
PROGRAMME
प्रव तथ: 10 AUG 2026 4:50PM by PIB Delhi
Government of India formulated the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Inter-Basin Water Transfer and
30 Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) Projects were identified under NPP (16 link projects under the Peninsular
component and 14 link projects under the Himalayan component). National Water Development Agency
(NWDA) has been entrusted with the work of ILR. The present status of all 30 ILR projects is at
Annexure.
The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the only priority link project under the NPP that has entered the
implementation stage. The project, with an estimated cost of ₹44,605 crore, is envisaged to provide
irrigation to about 11.88 lakh hectares, drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people, 103 MW of
hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.
In addition, the Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP), which incorporates the Godavari (Polavaram)–Krishna
(Vijayawada) link, stands classified as a National Project and is executed by the Government of Andhra
Pradesh and Polavaram Project Authority (PPA). The project envisages irrigation to about 7.2 lakh acres
and stabilization of 23.5 lakh acres in the Godavari and Krishna delta systems, diversion of 80 TMC of
Godavari water to the Krishna basin, drinking and industrial water supply including to Visakhapatnam,
domestic water supply to about 28.5 lakh population in 611 villages, and hydropower generation of 960
MW. The Polavaram Irrigation Project has received cumulative Central Assistance of ₹20,658 crore.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) forms part of the preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs) and
Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for every Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) project, with assessment of
environmental and socio-economic impacts. For the Ken–Betwa Link Project, a comprehensive EIA has
been completed along with an Integrated Landscape Management Plan (ILMP), which outlines measures
relating to catchment-area treatment, landscape-level ecological management, biodiversity conservation,
command-area development and long-term monitoring of environmental parameters. For all ILR projects,
including the Ken–Betwa Link Project, Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R)
components stand included in the sanctioned project structure, and project execution conforms to
applicable environmental, forest-clearance and R&R provisions.
***
ANNEXURE
THE DETAILS OF RIVER LINKING PROJECTS WITH THEIR PRESENT STATUS:
Peninsular Component
Sl.No Name States benefited Status1 Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari Andhra Pradesh (AP) Feasibility Report
(Dowlaiswaram) link and Odisha completed
Alternate Mahanadi (Barmul)- AP and Odisha Feasibility Report
Rushikulya–Godavari Dowlaiswaram) completed
link
2 Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna AP, Karnataka, Feasibility Report
(Vijayawada) link @ Maharashtra and completed
Telangana
3 a.) Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna Telangana Feasibility Report
(Nagarjunasagar) link completed
b.) Alternate Godavari (Inchampalli) - Telangana
Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link * DPR completed
4 Godavari (Inchampalli/ SSMPP) - Telangana and AP DPR completed
Krishna (Pulichintala) link
5 a.) Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar AP Feasibility Report
(Somasila ) link completed
b.)Alternate Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) AP
- Pennar (Somasila ) link * DPR completed
6 Krishna (Srisailam) – Pennar link AP DPR Completed
7 Krishna (Almatti) – Pennar link Karnataka &AP DPR completed
8 a.) Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery AP, Tamil Nadu and Feasibility Report
(Grand Anicut) link Puducherry completed
b.) Alternate Pennar (Somasila) - AP, Tamil Nadu and
Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link * Puducherry DPR completed
9 Cauvery (Kattalai) - Vaigai -Gundar Tamil Nadu DPR completed
link10 a) Parbati –Kalisindh - Chambal link Madhya Pradesh (MP) Feasibility Report
and Rajasthan completed
b) Modified Parbati – Kalisindh- MP and Rajasthan MoA for implementation
Chambal link has been signed by both the
States
11 Damanganga - Pinjal link Maharashtra (only DPR completed and
water supply to dropped from status of
Mumbai) “priority links”
12 Par-Tapi-Narmada link Gujarat and DPR completed and
Maharashtra dropped from status of
“priority links”
13 Ken-Betwa link Uttar Pradesh (UP) and DPR completed and work
MP has been commenced.
14 Pamba - Achankovil - Vaippar link Tamil Nadu and Kerala Feasibility Report
completed
15 Bedti - Varda link @@ Karnataka DPR completed
16 Netravati – Hemavati link** Karnataka Pre-Feasibility Report
completed
* Due to pending consensus on Manibhadra and Inchampalli dams, Phase-I of the Project to divert
unutilized waters of Godavari River was carried out, and DPR of Godavari (Inchampalli) – Krishna
(Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila) – Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link projects (combined) called the
Godavari-Cauvery link was completed. The report has further been updated, terminating the link canal at
Manimukhta nadi, a Tributary of the Vellar River flowing adjacent to the 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 completed by the Govt. of
Andhra Pradesh and Polavaram Project Authority.
** Netravati – Hemavati link: Further studies not taken up after PFR preparation since, after
implementation of the Yettinahole project by the Govt. of Karnataka, no surplus water is available in
Netravati basin for diversion through this link.
HIMALAYAN COMPONENT
Sl.No Name States/Countries Status
benefited
1. Kosi-Mechi link*** Bihar and Nepal PFR completed and
proposal dropped2. Kosi-Ghaghra link Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Feasibility Report
and Nepal completed
3. Gandak - Ganga link UP and Nepal Feasibility Report
completed
4. Ghaghra - Yamuna link UP and Nepal Feasibility Report
completed
5. Sarda - Yamuna link UP and Uttarakhand DPR Completed
6. Yamuna-Rajasthan link Haryana and Rajasthan Feasibility Report
completed
7. Rajasthan-Sabarmati link Rajasthan and Gujarat Feasibility Report
completed
8. Chunar - Sone Barrage link Bihar and UP Feasibility Report
completed
9. Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Bihar and Jharkhand Draft FR completed
Ganga link
10. Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga (M-S- Assam, West Bengal and Feasibility Report
T-G) link Bihar completed
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 Feasibility Report
completed
13. Ganga (Farakka) - Damodar- WB, Odisha and Jharkhand Feasibility Report
Subarnarekha link completed
14. Subarnarekha-Mahanadi link WB and Odisha Feasibility Report
completed
Kosi-Mechi link *** - Kosi Mechi Inter State link was dropped due to international dimensions and on
request of State Govt. of Bihar, Kosi-Mechi Intra State link was studied by NWDA and its DPR was
submitted to State Govt.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ
BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
***ND/HM
(Rajya Sabha USQ 2473)
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2297168) आगंतुक पटल : 1692
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