News Highlights
The Gujarat government announced that it had scrapped the proposed Par – Tapi – Narmada river interlink project in south Gujarat after strong protests by tribal communities of the three districts in the region.
Par – Tapi – Narmada River Interlinking Project
- Based on 1980 National Perspective Plan Union government, Gujarat and Maharashtra signed a tri party agreement which initiated the project in 2010.
- Three rivers involved in interlinking are Par ,Tapi , Narmada
- Aim – The project intends to transfer river water from the Western Ghats’ surplus regions to Saurashtra and Kutch’s deficiency areas.
- Seven reservoirs in north Maharashtra and south Gujarat are proposed as part of the connection project.
- Seven dams, three diversion weirs, two tunnels, a 395-kilometer canal, six power plants, and a number of cross-drainage works are all part of the project.
- Benefits of Projects
- The link will generate hydropower of the order of 93.00 Mkwh through power plants erected at four dam locations, in addition to providing irrigation advantages to the enroute command and Narmada command.
- Flood relief will also be provided by the reservoirs for residents in downstream locations.
- Concern about Project
- According to a report by the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), the projected reservoirs will drown around 6065 acres of land.
- A total of 61 communities will be impacted, with one entirely drowned and the other 60 partially underwater.
- The overall number of families affected will be 2,509, with 98 families affected as a result of the construction of the Jheri reservoir, Maharashtra’s only one, which is distributed across six villages.
- The initiative will have an impact on roughly 2000 families in Gujarat. Tribals who are afraid of displacement dominate the districts where the project will be implemented.
Common Benefits of River Interlinking
- Water would be transferred from flood-prone areas to drought-prone areas via interlinking of rivers.
- Interlinking of rivers will create a network of navigation channels.
- In the water-scarce western peninsula, interconnecting rivers offers the ability to irrigate 35 million hectares of land.
- The interlinked rivers have the potential to generate a total power of 34 GW.
Common Concern about Interlinking of Rivers
- Large scale displacement of people living around rivers.
- Ecological impact and biodiversity loss . For example – interlinking of Ken and Betwa affects Panna tiger reserve.
- Interlinking of rivers may affect the course of rivers that may negatively affect border countries.
- Huge economic cost.
Other River Linking Projects in India
Do You Know?
- Par River
- Source : Wadpada village in Nashik Maharashtra
- Mouth : Arabian Sea
- Passing States : Maharashtra , Gujarat
- Tapi River
- Source : Betul district of Madhya Pradesh in the Satpura ranges.
- Mouth : Arabian Sea
- Basian States : Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
- Narmada River
- Source : Maikala range near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.
- Mouth : Arabian Sea
- The Narmada River is the peninsular region’s main west-flowing river, flowing through a rift valley between the Vindhya Range to the north and the Satpura Range to the south.
- Major Dam : Sardarsarovar dam
- Major Island : Aliabet
Content Source : New Indian Express