INTERLINKING OFRIVERS By SHIVAKUMAR. S. S VIII SEM S. J. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 11 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION NEED FOR INTERLINKING OF RIVERS CONCEPT OF INTERLINKING OF RIVERS NATIONAL WATER DEVELOPMENT AGENCY CASE STUDY OF BIHAR EXISTING INTER BASIN PROJECTS CONCLUSION REFERENCES 22 India has a vast geographical area of 329 mha.INTRODUCTION Interlinking of rivers literally means joining of natural channels. The earliest of diversion by anicuts have taken place in South India from the time of the Chola Kings. 33 . It’s water resources are unevenly distributed in time and space. Diversion of river waters for cultivation of crops has been taking place from historical times. Out of the 690 b. the present use is about 605 b.cum of ground water. climatic and topographical factors cause recurrence of floods in some parts of the country and some parts will be facing scarcity of water. of about 300cm in northeastern state of India to less than 15cm in its northwestern part in semi-arid and arid part of Rajasthan and Gujarat.NEED FOR INTERLINKING The annual rainfall varies from avg. The various factors like hydrological. The current stage of utilisation of surface and ground water resources being 70% & 30% respectively of the utilisable resources. Large scale migration of the people from the areas of water scarcity is one of the serious concerns of our country. 4 4 . The Himalayan rivers flowing in the northern part of India are snow fed and perennial whereas the peninsular rivers are rain fed and seasonal.cum. About 70% of river flows are discharged into sea without utilisation.cum of utilisable surface water and 432 b. it is only 380 cu-m. One third of the country is drought prone. Any situation less than 1000 cu-m per capita is considered as scarcity condition.417 cu-m. REQUIREMENT OF WATER PURPOSE OF USE Irrigation Domestic water supply and live stock Agriculture VOL. whereas in some basins of the east flowing rivers of Tamilnadu.864 5 5 .060 90 600 Industry 64 Energy 50 Total 1. BILLION CU-M 1. while the areas susceptible to floods is around 40 mha.The per capita availability of water in Brahmaputra basin is as high as 18. 6 6 . VARIOUS RIVERS AND THEIR CATCHMENT AREAS RIVER CATCHMENT AREA IN mha Ganga-BrahmaputraMeghna 110 Indus 32. Out of these.2 7 7 .12 are classified as major rivers whose total catchment area is 252.1 Godavari 31.MAJOR RIVER SYSTEM India is blessed with many rivers.9 Mahanadi 14.3 Krishna 25.8 mha. 8 8 . interlinking of rivers belonging to altogether different basins is not a natural process and can only take place 9 through man made devices. 9 . Rivers. after gaining independence from colonial powers wanted to express their national confidence through such major projects. Many countries.CONCEPT OF INTERLINKING The concept of interlinking of rivers evolved during 1950S. The intra-basin interlinking of rivers is a natural geomorphologic process. the UN promoted such projects as part of “Stability and Peace”. As distinct from this. At that time. which join. act as drainage channels and entire river system so formed drains a specified area called the basin of that system. The interlinking of Indian rivers proposal originated at the same time as the world became fascinated with large water infrastructure projects. FIGURE: INTERLINKING OF RIVERS 10 10 . Neither the lateral slope available to the tributaries linking with their parent channel nor the longitudinal slope available to ridge channels for distribution of water will be available to link channels. Water transferred is directly used. Any other use of a link channel will be incidental to serve the primary purpose. The primary purpose of link channels will be to transfer water of a river to another river of a different basin. Irrigation channels are generally ridge Channels suitable for distribution of water as distinct from valley channel suitable for drainage of water. 11 11 .FACTORS DISTINGUISHING INTERLINKING OF RIVERS THROUGH INTRA-BASIN AND INTERBASIN WATER TRANSFER INTRA-BASIN WATER TRANSFER INTER-BASIN WATER TRANSFER Transfer of water is invariably to It envisages linking of rivers belonging to different basins. which the adjoining basins and not may or may not be adjacent. across basins. for irrigation in this case and not brought to a river in the receiving basin and hence does not constitute interlinking of rivers. making pumping or input of energy necessary. the direction of flows in the link channel and its alignment will be determined accordingly. 12 12 . in which lower portion of command areas include areas in the adjoining river basin through which water is conveyed through ridge canals. The link channels will almost invariably have to operate with adverse slope. As the objective of interlinking of rivers in the present context is to transfer water from water-surplus rivers/basins to water-deficit rivers/basins. Essentially inter-basin transfer of water has been done through surface irrigation projects.INTRA-BASIN WATER TRANSFER INTER-BASIN WATER TRANSFER Transfer of water takes place through gravity flows and does not require lifting by pumps. through cross drainage works. Input of energy to maintain flow in the channel/pipe in the desired direction which may be against gravity. through weirs and barrages. the following points should be considered carefully. Structural facilities for conveyance of diverted water to be accomplished by channels or pipes. 13 13 . Structural facilities for diversion of water. The envisaged interlinking of rivers involves transfer of water through link channels.TECHNICAL ASPECTS FOR INTERLINKING No established technology exists for interlinking of rivers. Structural facilities for storage of water through dams and reservoirs. As far as civil engineering in concerned. Structural facilities for crossing natural drainage channels. In most reaches. adverse gradient may encounter which may require lifting of water by use of pumps for the purpose. As these link channels will carry high discharges to invariably long distances. demographic and other relevant considerations. In the alignment of link channels.PROBLEMS FACED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LINK CHANNELS Suitability of off take points from hydraulic. Water carried by link channels will have the characteristics of water of the rivers such as silt content and pollution.Thus drainage works are required at each crossing. the link channels are likely to be in filling and hence will cause heavy seepage and hence proper lining is required. The link channels may encounter natural channels. Thus the design of the link channels and the characteristics of water of the recipient river will have to be studied 14 14 . acquisition of lands and related problems will arise. 000 crore. It carries out the water balance and other studies on a scientific and realistic basis for optimum utilisation of Water Resources of the Peninsular Rivers System .NATIONAL WATER DEVELOPMENT AGENCY National water development agency (NWDA) was set up in July. the Task Force has been set up with a time bound mandate of taking various steps towards the implementation of the project in a period of 10 years at a tentatively estimated cost of Rs. 15 15 . According to the directive of the Supreme Court . 1982 as Autonomous Society under the Societies Registration Act.60. NWDA has so far identified and investigated 16 links for peninsular rivers and 14 for the Himalayan Rivers and has carried out prefeasibility studies with respect to about 6 of them. 1860 under Ministry of Water Resources . In 1990 NWDA was also entrusted with the task of Himalayan Rivers Development Component of the National Perspective. 5. 12. 5. Manas-Sankosh-Tista Ganga link. 10. Sarda-Yamuna link. Subernarekha-Mahanadi link. Farakka-Sunderbans link.NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE FOR WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT National Perspective Plan comprises of two main components a) Himalayan rivers Development b) Peninsular rivers Development Himalayan component 1. 7. Yamuna-Rajasthan link. Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link. 3. Rajasthan-Sabarmati link. 2. Kosi-Mechi link 16 16 . Ghaghara -Yamuna link.Ghaghara link 14. 4. Kosi. 11. 6. 13. Sone Dam-Southern tributaries of Ganga link. 9. Gandak-Ganga link. 8. Ganga-Damodar-Subernarekha link. Chunar-Sone Barrage link. Ken-Betwa Link 16. Par-Tapi-Narmada Link 15. Somasila-Grand Anicut Link 9. Bedti-Varada Link 12.Peninsular Components 1. Nagarjunasagar-Somasila Link 8. Almatti-Pennar Link 6. Srisailam-Pennar Link 7. Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link 17 17 . Inchampalli Low Dam-Nagarjunasagar Tail Pond Link 4. Kattalai-Vaigai-Gundar Link 10. Mahanadi-Godavari Link 2. Netravati-Hemavati Link 13. Inchampalli-Nagarjunasagar Link 3. Polavaram -Vijayawada Link 5. Damanganga-Pinjal Link 14. Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar Link 11. IMPORTANT COMPONENTS REQUIRED FOR INTERLINKING NAME OF DAM HEIGHT (m) SUBMERGENCE (ha) FOREST CULTIVATED LAND POPULATION AFFECTED MANIBHADRA 49 9.000 INCHAMPALLI 41 21.782 1.158 1.09.828 9.080 POLAVARAM 23 3.887 43.734 37.500 79.087 18 18 .00. water supply. medium and minor irrigation projects and generation of 34 MKW of hydropower apart from the benefits of flood control. salinity ingress and pollution control. accrual of irrigation benefits would be to the extent of about 35 million ha (25 M-ha from surface waters and 10M-ha by increased use of ground water) which will be over and above the ultimate potential of 140 M-ha from major. navigation. 19 19 . fisheries.Benefits from peninsular and Himalayan rivers development components On implementation of the proposed National Perspective Plan for inter-basin transfer of water. Chhotanagpur and Rajmahal hills.CASE STUDY OF BIHAR Bihar. and south Bihar is drained by rivers originating in the Vindhyan. will serve and apt case to illustrate various issues and aspects related to interlinking of rivers. The present day Bihar. All these rivers join Ganga at various confluence points lying mostly in Bihar. 20 20 . While most of Bihar is part of the Ganga basin. a state situated in the eastern part of India. north Bihar is drained by rivers originating in the Himalayas and Nepal. can be considered as comprising two distinct hydrological regions. after a separate state of Jharkand. North Bihar lying north of the river Ganga up to its border with Nepal and South Bihar lying south of Ganga adjoining Jharkand. 000 Km. About 5 MW of energy will be needed to transfer 1 cusec of water. 2.500 MW of power will be required. 21 21 . The flow will ultimately have to negotiate a negative head of 160m as the difference in altitudes of Delhi and Patna and 200m as the head required for inertial flow through a channel distance of more than 1.The excess water from river Ganga at Patna a water surplus location is to be transferred to the river Yamuna at Delhi. to transfer 500 cusecs of water. a water-deficit area. At this rate. which is about three times the total power consumption in Bihar. (i) Hydro meteorological The catchments areas of north Bihar rivers receive almost 85% of their annual precipitation during 4 months of the south-west monsoons during JuneSeptember. The annual precipitation varies from 130 cm in the North Bihar plains up to 300 cm on the southward slopes of the Himalayan part of the catchments in Nepal.RECURRENCE OF FLOODS AS CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF SURPLUS In the case of north Bihar. 22 22 . recurrent occurrences of floods are caused by a combination of the following five factors. mostly concentrated during July and August. Everest lies in these catchments) to steep in the sub-mountainous parts to extremely mild in the north Bihar plains through a relatively short stretch of 300 Km. mostly in Nepal.(ii)Hydrological On an average. (iii)Topographical Catchments of north Bihar rivers undergo a very large and sharp change in gradients from very steep in the mountainous (Mt. 23 23 . more than 60% of the aggregate catchments areas of north Bihar Rivers lie in high precipitation region outside north Bihar. agriculture and other activities of a high-density population. floods cause recurrent disruption. So they spill over the banks and inundate the flood plains. using them as temporary dynamic storage. This is also linked by other facts and situations.(iv) Hydraulic When high flows resulting from run-off transformation of seasonally concentrated precipitation in higher precipitation upper catchments areas travel from steep gradients and encounter mild gradients downstream. 24 24 . attracting national attention. they exceed the conveyance capacities of rivers in their lower reaches. damages and devastations on a large. (v) Demographic As the inundated flood plains support habitation. ECOLOGICAL AND HUMAN IMPACT As interlinking of rivers is achieved by a combination of engineering measures such as dams.ENVIRONMENTAL. They are likely to cause substantial displacement of people giving rise to problems of resettlement and rehabilitation. Unless the link channels are lined. which will be a cost-prohibitive proposition. there is bound to be resistance on their part. environmental and ecological impacts as well as displacement of people resulting from each of them will lead to the following consequences. barrages. As these long link channels may pass through dense forest and habitats of wildlife. As the people to be displaced will be far from being beneficiaries. 25 25 . Import of vast amount of water in arid or semi-arid areas may adversely affect their dry land ecology. will cause heavy seepage which will not only constitute loss of water under transfer but may also create water logging conditions in certain areas. their ecological consequences may be serious and substantive. cross drainage structures and link channels. 4.5 lakh people to be displaced. Rising funds a constraint. Generate 34000 MW of power Boost GDP growth by 4% 26 26 . Promises Pitfalls Transfer 173 billion cubic metres of water to waterstressed regions More inter state water disputes.292 ha of forests. Diplomatic row with Bangladesh &Nepal Building 11000km of canal network Increased incidence of water logging and submergence of 79. costoverturn to make the project prohibitively costly.EXISTING INTER BASIN TRANSFER PROJECTS The periyar Project. Kurnool-Cudappah Canal and the Telugu Ganga Project in the south and inter sub-basin transfers in the Indus basin and Rajasthan canal project in the north are good examples of inter basin water transfers executed in India in 19th and 20th centuries. Parambikulam Aliyar Projet. of 27 27 . At the same time. lessons have to be learnt from their actual performance. environmental and ecological as well as social cost involved and finding options and alternatives in the context.CONCLUSION The foreign schemes give confidence for planning inter-basin water transfer schemes in India. technological and economic aspects interlinking need comprehensive examination and analysis. economic viability and environmental suitability. The conceptual. The envisaged benefits to water-deficit regions of the country through interlinking of rivers and also solution for problems such as flood as seen from case study of Bihar should be assessed and analysed in terms of economic. (2003).REFERENCES 1. The Hindu Survey Of The Environment 2003 28 28 . National Seminar on Inter linking of Rivers. “Interlinking of rivers for inter basin transfer.” Economic and political weekly . 7.2004 2. 2003. 30th April and 1st May. 2003. 2003. National Seminar on Inter linking of Rivers.(2004). 30th April and 1st May.March 20th. National Water Authority. “Linking rivers:A Dream or a Nightmare”. Prasad. Report by. Sudhirendra Sharma.Vasantha (2003).A. (2003). 6. GOI. S. Central Water Commision. “An Overview Of Inter-basin water transfer studies”. Biksham Gujja & Hajara Shaik. 30th April and 1st May. Vaidyanathan. “Linking rivers:Learn from others mistakes”.Char. T. “ Need For Linking Rivers”. (2003). G. (2003)“Linking of National Rivers” . 4. “ Interlinking of peninsular rivers:A Critique” Economic and political weekly” . The Hindu Survey Of The Environment 2003.July 5 3. National Seminar on Inter linking of Rivers.A. 5. 29 .
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