Question

Write the pros and cons of unification of rivers in India

Answer 1

The idea behind interlinking of rivers is to transfer water from surplus region to the deficient one through a number of link canals.

The northern plains of India are endowed with surplus water due to the presence of perennial rivers emanating from Himalaya, but the southern and western India has seasonal rivers i.e they have water in the river only during the monsoon season. While we face floods in one region we also face drought in the other region, so can't we have a system of equitable distribution of water.

Therefore, Government has identified 14 Himalayan rivers, 16 Peninsular rivers and 37 intrastate rivers having potential of interlinking.

The concept is not new to India, it was initiated in the British rule. Ken-Betwa interlinking project in Bundelkhand region of UP and MP is the first inter-state river interlinking project in India, recently got approval from NGT.

Answer 2

Write the pros and cons of unification of rivers in India.

The main concept behind the interlinking of the river is to transfer the surplus water in the regions where there scarcity of water.

The Pros are:

1. It generates 34000 MW of hydro power. India has contract deal with Paris climate Deal to reduce the carbon foot prints.

2. Share of water transportation is very low. Highest share is from the roads.

The cons are:

1. The Himalayas region watersides bring more about the silt. As a result it causes siltation in the downstream region.

2. collection of huge water causes earthquake, called the  Reservoir Seismicity.