River-linking is not the solution

GS-II: Federalism | Inter-State Relations | Water Governance | GS-III: Environment & Ecology | Agriculture | Resource Management

Context

• Southern Zonal Council: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at the Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mamallapuram, emphasised the need for an early resolution of water disputes in southern India.
• River Interlinking: He also advocated linking major rivers from the Brahmaputra to the Godavari and Cauvery, arguing that it could help India avoid water shortages for a long period.
• Implementation Challenge: Persistent inter-State disputes, ecological concerns and delays in dispute resolution highlight the complexity of managing India’s water resources.

Pennaiyar River Water Dispute

• Origin of Dispute: Tamil Nadu alleged violation by Karnataka of the 1892 inter-State agreement and sought constitution of a tribunal in November 2019.
• Supreme Court: Tamil Nadu also approached the Supreme Court seeking adjudication of the dispute.
• Negotiation Attempts: The Centre constituted two negotiation committees, which held 11 meetings.
• Tribunal Direction: The Supreme Court directed the Centre in February to constitute a tribunal within a month and subsequently extended the deadline by six months.
• Delay: Despite the judicial direction, the adjudicatory body has not yet been constituted.
• Mahadayi Proposal: The Centre suggested referring the Pennaiyar dispute to the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal instead of creating a new tribunal.
• Legal Concern: The suggestion is questioned because the two disputes are unrelated and the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 does not permit such a transfer.

Mekedatu Water Dispute

• Tamil Nadu’s Demand: Tamil Nadu sought constitution of a tribunal in March this year regarding Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project.
• Central Response: The Centre has not yet responded to the demand.
• Federal Concern: Such delays add to concerns regarding the effectiveness of mechanisms for resolving inter-State river disputes.

River Interlinking: Key Argument

• Surplus Water: Proponents argue that river linking would involve diverting only a portion of surplus water, without disturbing the natural flow of rivers.
• Expert Concerns: Critics argue that once water is diverted, beneficiary regions may demand continued supplies even during periods of distress.
• Existing Rights: Such demands could potentially affect the water availability of original beneficiaries.
• Ecological Impact: River interlinking can also create ecological consequences that need careful assessment.

Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar Link

• Kerala’s Opposition: Kerala has strongly opposed the Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar link proposal.
• Wetland Concern: The State argues that the project could affect the Vembanad wetland system, into which the Pamba and Achankovil rivers drain.
• NWDA Position: The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) maintains that improving river flows during lean periods has been taken into account.

Experience with Inter-Basin Water Transfers

• Limited Experience: In the last 130-odd years, India has undertaken only a handful of inter-basin water-transfer projects.
• Mullaperiyar: The Mullaperiyar dam is cited as one example.
• Parambikulam-Aliyar: The Parambikulam-Aliyar project is another example.
• Krishna Water Supply: The Krishna Water Supply Project represents another inter-basin transfer initiative.
• Indira Gandhi Canal: The Indira Gandhi Canal Project is also regarded as a successful example.

River Interlinking Programme

• Special Committee: After the BJP returned to power in 2014, the Union government constituted a Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers.
• Meetings: The committee has held more than two dozen meetings.
• Limited Progress: Despite these efforts, there has been limited headway.
• Ken-Betwa Project: In 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the ₹44,000 crore Ken-Betwa Link Project.
• Social Resistance: The project has led to agitations by tribal populations in Chhatarpur.

Supply-Side vs Demand-Side Management

• Current Approach: Water policy has traditionally focused heavily on supply-side interventions, including large irrigation and river-linking projects.
• Need for Shift: The focus should increasingly move towards demand-side water management.
• Land Constraints: Increasing scarcity of land makes large infrastructure projects more difficult.
• Land Acquisition: Growing resistance to land acquisition further complicates mega irrigation projects.
• Conservation Priority: Greater emphasis is required on conserving available water and using it judiciously.

Agricultural Water Management

• Farmer Sensitisation: Farmers need to be sensitised about the optimal use of water.
• Incentives: Appropriate incentives should encourage efficient water use.
• Groundwater Extraction: Indiscriminate extraction of groundwater is creating serious ecological concerns.
• Free Electricity: Free electricity for agriculture in many States has facilitated excessive groundwater extraction.
• Ecological Risk: Unchecked extraction could contribute to ecological disaster.

Way Forward

• Demand-Side Management: Prioritise water conservation and efficient utilisation over perpetual expansion of supply.
• Efficient Agriculture: Promote optimal and judicious use of water by farmers through sensitisation and incentives.
• Groundwater Regulation: Curb indiscriminate groundwater extraction, particularly where electricity incentives encourage overuse.
• Storage & Conservation: Focus on conserving available water resources rather than relying solely on mega projects.
• Dispute Resolution: Ensure timely implementation of mechanisms for adjudicating inter-State water disputes.
• Ecological Assessment: River-linking projects should adequately consider their ecological and social consequences.
• Cooperative Federalism: Centre and States need greater cooperation to manage water as a shared and finite resource.

Conclusion

• Core Challenge: India’s water crisis cannot be addressed merely by continuously increasing water supply.
• Sustainable Approach: The long-term solution lies in conservation, efficient utilisation, demand management and timely dispute resolution.
• Key Lesson: Unless water conservation becomes a genuine priority for all stakeholders, inter-State water disputes will continue to remain the norm.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

“India’s water security requires a shift from supply-side interventions towards demand-side management and water conservation.” Discuss in the context of inter-State river disputes and river interlinking.
(250 words | 15 marks)