The MoS also said, “For other priority ILR projects, the Centre is making all efforts for consensus building. The consultation with the states and review of the progress of ILR projects are being carried out at various platforms.”
New Delhi: In order to support irrigation, generate power and take other measures, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) has identified 30 river links (16 under peninsular component and 14 under Himalayan component) for preparation of feasibility reports, said Minister of State for Jal Shakti Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Of the 30, the Ken-Betwa, Par-Tapi-Narmada, Damanganga-Pinjal and Godavari (Inchampalli barrage)-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link projects have been declared as priority projects by the Government of India. The Godavari (Inchampalli barrage)-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link project consists of three links — Godavari-Krishna, Krishna-Pennar and Pennar-Cauvery links.
The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first interlinking of rivers (ILR) project under the NPP which is under implementation. The Centre has approved the implementation of KBLP at an estimated cost of Rs 44,605 crore (year 2020-21 price level) with central support of Rs 39,317 crore through a Special Purpose Vehicle or the Ken Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA).
The MoS also said, “For other priority ILR projects, the Centre is making all efforts for consensus building. The consultation with the states and review of the progress of ILR projects are being carried out at various platforms.”
He added, “The implementation of the link projects is expected to give benefit of 25 million ha of irrigation from surface water and 10 million ha by increased use of ground water, raising the ultimate irrigation potential from 140 million ha to 175 million ha, apart from generation of 34 million KW of power and other benefits of flood control, navigation, augmentation of water supply, fisheries, salinity control, pollution control and employment generation and others.”