Water Management & River-Interlinking: New Issues

The National Democratic Alliance government is all set to begin work on an estimated $87 billion plan to connect around 60 of India’s largest rivers; this includes the Ganga. Once complete, it is expected to help end farmers’ dependence on fickle monsoon rains, bring millions of hectares of cultivable land under irrigation and help generate thousands of megawatts of electricity.

Water Management

• The river-linking plan was first proposed in 2002 by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government.
• However, it was stalled as States failed to end differences over water sharing contracts and clearances.
• This government has been able push through clearances for ....