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Excerpts from:
Government of India, 2000, Inter-basin water transfer proposals, New Delhi. This
document describes the status of the project investigations by the agency, which
was set up in 1982 for this purpose (source -
http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/sarasvatilocus.pdf)
"It
is proposed to complete the feasibility reports of the remaining Peninsular and
Himalayan Rivers Components in a period of about 5 and 10 years respectively.
Implementation of the interbasin water transfer link schemes can be taken up in
a phased manner depending on the priorities of the Govt. ad availability of
funds. But before this, certain other steps, viz. negotiations and agreements
amongst the states involved in interbasin transfer, preparation of Detailed
Project Reports (DPRs), Techno-economic appraisal
of DPRs and investment clearance of the schemes, funding arrangements and fixing
agencies for execution etc. would be necessary...
"The
National Water Policy adopted by the Government of India in September 1987...It
states: `Water should be made available to water short areas by transfer from
other areas including transfers from one river basin to another based on
National Perspective after taking into account requirements of the
areas/basins.'
"Himalayan
Rivers Development
"Himalayan
Rivers Development envisages construction of storage reservoirs on the principal
tributaries of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra in India, Nepal and Bhutan, along
with inter-linking canal systems to transfer surplus flows of the eastern
tributaries of the Ganga to the west, apart from linking of the main Brahmaputra
and its tributaries with the Ganga and Ganga with Mahanadi.
"The
Himalayan component would provide additional irrigation of about 22 million
hectare and generation of about 30 million MW of hydropower, besides providing
substantial flood control in the Ganga and Brahmaputra basins. It would also
provide the necessary discharge for augmentation of flows at Farakka required
interalia to flush the Calcutta Port and the inland navigation facilities across
the Country.
"Peninsular
Rivers Development
The
Peninsular component is expected to provide additional irrigation of about 13
million
hectare
and is expected to generate about 4 million KW of power.
"This
component is divided into four major parts:
1. interlinking of Mahaadi-Godavari-Krishna-Cauvery rivers and building
storages at potential sites in these basins
This
is the major interlinking of the river systems where surpluses from the Mahanadi
and
Godavari are intended to be transferred to the needy areas in the south.
2. interlinking of west flowing rivers, north of Bombay and south of Tapi
This
scheme envisages construction of as many optimal storages as possible on these
streams
and interlinking them to make available appreciable quantum of water for
transfer
to areas where additional water is needed. The scheme provides for taking water
supply
canal to the metropolitan areas of Bombay; it also provides irrigation to the
coastal
areas in Maharashtra.
3. interlinking of Ken-Chambal rivers
The
scheme provides for a water grid for Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and
interlinking
canal backed by as many storages as possible.
4. diversion of other west flowing rivers
Heavy
rainfall on the western side of the `Western Ghats' runs down numerous streams
which empty into the Arabian Sea. Construction of an interlinking canal system
backed up by adequate storages could be planned to meet all requirements of
keral as also for transfer of some waters towards east to meet the needs of
drought affected areas.
Benefits
"The National Water Development Plan would provide
additional irrigation benefits of 35 million hectare i.e. 25 million hectare
from surface waters and 10 million hectare by increased use of ground waters
over and above the ultimate irrigation potential of 140 million hectare from
Major, Medium and Minor projects and generation of 34 million KW of power, apart
from the benefits of flood control, navigation, water supply, fisheries,
salinity and pollution control etc."
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