The interlinking of rivers (ILR) programme has been taken up on high priority. The Government is pursuing the ILR program in a consultative manner.

The National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared by the then Ministry of Irrigation, now Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR) in August 1980 for water resources development through inter basin transfer of water, for transferring water from water surplus basins to water-deficit basins. Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs). The Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the all 30 links have been prepared and circulated to the concerned State Governments by the NWDA. After survey and investigations, Feasibility Reports of 14 links under Peninsular Component and Feasibility Reports of 2 links and draft Feasibility Reports of 7 links (Indian portion) under Himalayan Component have been completed. Present status, States concerned with Inter Basin Water Transfer Links are given in Annexure.

Under NPP four priority links have been identified for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) under the Peninsular Rivers Component viz; Ken-Betwa link project (KBLP) Phase –I & II, Damanganga-Pinjal link project, Par-Tapi-Narmada link project and Mahanadi-Godavari link project. The preparation of DPR of a project is taken up only after consent of concerned State Governments. Based on the concurrence of the concerned States, DPRs of KBLP Phase-I & Phase-II, Damanganga-Pinjal link project and Par-Tapi-Narmada link project have been completed. The techno-economic clearance and various statutory clearances of the KBLP Phase-I have been accorded except clearance from Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court. Based on the request of Government of Madhya Pradesh, Lower Orr dam, Bina complex and Kotha barrage projects have been included in KBLP Phase-II. The DPR of these projects have been completed by NWDA/ Government of Madhya Pradesh. The draft Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for implementation of Ken-Betwa Link Project has been sent to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for concurrence.

The techno-economic clearance of the Damanganga-Pinjal link project has also been accorded, subject to statutory clearances. The DPR of Par-Tapi-Narmada link project has been completed by NWDA. The combined draft MoA for implementation of Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada Link (including the four intra-state link projects of Maharashtra State) has been sent to Maharashtra and Gujarat State Governments for concurrence.

The cost of the above three interlinking projects as per DPR are furnished below:

The estimated cost of other ILR projects will only be known after completion of their respective DPRs.

The implementation of ILR projects involves various steps such as preparation of PFRs/FRs; negotiation and consensus among concerned States; preparation of DPRs; clearance from appraisal agencies including clearance by Ministry of Environment & Forests and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) and Ministry of Tribal Affairs; techno-economic clearance by Advisory Committee on Irrigation, Flood Control & Multipurpose Projects of MoWR, RD & GR; investment clearance and the actual construction time required for the completion of the project as per DPR.

The implementation of a project is taken up after preparation of its DPR with the consensus of concerned States and obtaining requisite statutory clearances.

ANNEXURE

Present status of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links, the States involved, name of rivers and status of Feasibility Reports/Detailed Project Report

· PFR- Pre  Feasibility Report

· FR- Feasibility Report

· DPR- Detailed Project Report

 This information was given by Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Arjum Ram Meghwal in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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NP/SKP/IA