Ken-Betwa River Link Enters Implementation as 26 Feasibility Reports Completed Under ILR Plan

Feasibility Reports for 26 links and Detailed Project Reports for 13 links have been completed out of 30 identified interlinking of rivers projects under the National Perspective Plan, the government stated. No interlinking project under the plan pertains to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Progress has been recorded in key links including Godavari-Krishna, Krishna Alamatti-Pennar, Bedti-Varada, Netravati-Hemavathi and Ken-Betwa during the last five years.

The Ken-Betwa Link Project is the only priority project to enter the implementation stage with an estimated cost of Rs 44,605 crore, including central support of Rs 39,317 crore. The Polavaram Irrigation Project, which incorporates the Godavari Polavaram-Krishna Vijayawada link, has received cumulative central assistance of Rs 20,658 crore.

The North Koel Reservoir Project, an inter-state irrigation scheme covering Bihar and Jharkhand, has an approved cost of Rs 2,430.76 crore with a central share of Rs 1,836.41 crore. The revised completion deadline is June 2026 and the project is expected to create irrigation potential for 1,14,021 hectares.

Environmental Impact Assessment is carried out for every river interlinking project during the preparation of feasibility and detailed reports to evaluate ecological and socio-economic effects on riparian communities. Statutory environmental and wildlife clearances are obtained as per law, and cost-sharing between the Centre and states is decided separately for each project. The programme is guided by institutional mechanisms such as the Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers, the National Water Development Agency and the Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers to ensure transparency, sustainability and equitable water distribution.