River-linking is not the solution, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah advocated for inter-linking major rivers from the Brahmaputra to the Godavari and Cauvery to ensure long-term water security.
• Tamil Nadu has been seeking the constitution of a tribunal for the Pennaiyar river water dispute with Karnataka since 2019, with the Supreme Court directing its formation.
• The Centre proposed referring the Pennaiyar dispute to the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal, a suggestion deemed illogical and not permitted by the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
• The Ken-Betwa Link Project, a ₹44,000 crore initiative, saw its foundation stone laid in 2024, leading to protests from tribal populations in Chhatarpur.
• Historically, successful inter-basin transfer projects include the Mullaperiyar dam, Parambikulam-Aliyar project, Krishna Water Supply Project, and Indira Gandhi Canal Project.

Detailed Insights:

• The Minister's speech at the Southern Zonal Council meeting highlighted the contentious nature of water sharing in the region.
• The Centre's delay in constituting a tribunal for the Pennaiyar dispute, despite a Supreme Court directive, indicates challenges in resolving inter-state river issues.
• Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project also faces a demand from Tamil Nadu for a tribunal, further illustrating ongoing water conflicts.
• Proponents of river linking suggest diverting surplus water without disturbing natural flow, but experts raise concerns about ecological impact and potential for new disputes.
• Kerala, for instance, opposes the Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar link due to its potential adverse effects on the Vembanad wetland system.
• The National Water Development Agency claims to account for improving river flow during lean periods in its inter-linking proposals.
• After 2014, the Union government formed a Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers, which has held numerous meetings without significant progress on many projects.
• The article emphasizes shifting focus from supply-side interventions like mega irrigation projects to demand-side management and water conservation.
• Indiscriminate groundwater extraction, often facilitated by free electricity for agriculture, is identified as a major contributor to ecological disaster.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Inter-linking of Rivers (ILR): A large-scale engineering project to connect rivers through canals and reservoirs to transfer water from surplus basins to deficit areas.
• Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956: A law enacted under Article 262 of the Constitution to provide a mechanism for resolving disputes between states regarding inter-state rivers by establishing tribunals.
• Zonal Councils: Statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, to promote cooperation and coordination between states and the Centre on common issues.
• Demand-side management: Strategies focusing on efficient water use, conservation, and rational allocation to reduce overall water consumption rather than solely increasing supply.