Par-Tapi-Narmada River Link Project

Par-Tapi-Narmada River Link Project

 

Par-Tapi-Narmada River Link Project – Today Current Affairs

  • Recently some tribals have intensified their protest against the Par-Tapi-Narmada river link project, which was mentioned in the Finance Minister’s budget speech (2022-23).

Today Current Affairs

Background:

  • These projects were approved in the year 2010, when a tripartite agreement was signed between the Central Government, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
  • The Finance Minister in his budget speech said that five river interlinking projects would be started after the consent of the states.
  • These projects are Damanganga-Pinjal, Par-Tapi-Narmada, Godavari-Krishna, Krishna-Pennar and Pennar-Cauvery.
  • The government’s project of interlinking the Ken-Betwa River is the first project under the National Perspective Plan.
  • The National River Linking Project (NRLP), formally known as the National Perspective Plan, aims to convert the country’s ‘water surplus’ river basins (which are prone to floods) to ‘scarce’ river basins. (Where there is water scarcity or drought) so that excess water can be transferred from surplus areas to areas with less water.

Par-Tapi-Narmada River Link Project: The Hindu Analysis

  • The Par-Tapi-Narmada Link project proposes to transfer water from the water surplus areas of the Western Ghats to the water scarce areas of Saurashtra and Kutch (Gujarat).
  • This link project includes proposed seven reservoirs in northern Maharashtra and southern Gujarat.
  • The water of the seven proposed reservoirs is 395 km. Sardar Sarovar Project (on Narmada) operated through long canal will be taken while irrigating the areas of the short route.
  • The seven dams proposed in the plan are Jheri, Mohankavchali, Paikheed, Chasmandawa, Chikkar, Dabdar and Kelwan.
  • This will save water of Sardar Sarovar which will be used for irrigation in Saurashtra and Kutch region.
  • This link mainly consists of seven dams, three diversion wear, two tunnels and 395 km. The construction of a long canal, 6 power houses and several cross-drainage works is envisaged.

Project Benefits: The Hindu Analysis

  • Apart from providing irrigation benefits, the project will generate 93.00 MkWh of hydroelectricity through power stations installed at the four dam sites.
  • People living in low-lying areas will also get relief from floods.

About Narmada River: The Hindu Analysis

  • Narmada is the longest west flowing river in the peninsular region. It flows through a fault valley between the Vindhya Range in the north and the Satpura range in the south.
  • It originates from the Maikal range near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.
  • A major part of its drainage area is in Madhya Pradesh and also in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
  • Near Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), this river forms the ‘Dhuadhar Falls’.
  • There are many islands in the mouth of Narmada River, of which Aliyabet is the largest.
  • Major tributaries: Hiran, Orsang, Barna and Kolar etc.
  • Indira Sagar, Sardar Sarovar etc. are the major hydro-electric projects located in the basin of this river.

Tapi/Tapti River: The Hindu Analysis

  • Another important west flowing river originates from the Satpura ranges of Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.
  • It flows in a fault valley parallel to the Narmada but its length is very short.
  • Its basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Par River: The Hindu Analysis

  • It is a river flowing in Gujarat, which originates near Vadpada village of Nashik, Maharashtra.
  • It falls into the Arabian Sea.

River Linking Project (ILR):

 Objective: The Hindu Analysis

  • Connecting the ‘water deficient’ river basins (where there is water scarcity or drought conditions) with the ‘water surplus’ river basins (where flood conditions prevail) of the country so that the excess water from the surplus areas is to be diverted to be relocated to areas with shortages.

Requirement: The Hindu Analysis

  • Reducing regional imbalances: India is dependent on monsoon rainfall which is erratic as well as regionally imbalanced. Interlinking of rivers will result in additional rainfall and a reduction in the amount of river water flow into the sea.
  • Agricultural Irrigation: Irrigation related problems in deficient Indian agricultural areas can be solved by interlinking transfer of surplus water to deficient rainfall areas.
  • Reducing water crisis: It can help in reducing the impact of drought and flood to some extent.
  • Other benefits: This will offset ecological benefits in the form of hydropower generation, year-round navigation, job creation, dry forests and land.

Challenges: The Hindu Analysis

  • Environmental cost: The project threatens to disrupt the natural ecology of the rivers.
  • Climate change: Interlinking system involves transfer of water from ‘water surplus’ basin (where water content is high) to ‘water deficit’ basin.
  • If the basic state of any system is disturbed due to climate change then its concept becomes meaningless.
  • Economic cost: It is estimated that interlinking of rivers will put a huge financial burden on the government.
  • Socio-economic impact: It is estimated that about 15000 kms. About 5.5 million people will be displaced by the network of canals, most of whom will be affected by tribal and farming classes.

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