INTERLINKING OF RIVERS AND MAJOR IRRIGATION PROJECTS

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Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Jal Shakti
05 FEB 2026 4:42PM by PIB Delhi

The Feasibility Reports (FRs) for 26 links and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 13 links have been completed out of 30 identified interlinking of rivers (ILR) projects under the National Perspective Plan (NPP). Further, under the NPP, no interlinking of rivers project pertains to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The status of river interlinking projects including Godavari-Krishna River link, Krishna (Alamatti)-Pennar link, Bedti-Varada Link, Netravati-Hemavathi link and Ken-Betwa link those received sanctions/ approvals or recorded progress in last five years in the country are provided in the Annexure.

The Ken–Betwa Link Project is the only priority link that has entered the implementation stage. It has an estimated cost of ₹44,605 crore, with ₹39,317 crore of central support. The Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP), which includes the Godavari (Polavaram)–Krishna (Vijayawada) link, has received cumulative Central Assistance of ₹20,658 crore.

The North Koel Reservoir Project is an inter‑State major irrigation project with its command area spread across the States of Bihar and Jharkhand. The approved cost of the project is ₹2,430.76 crore, including a central share of ₹1,836.41 crore. The revised completion time of the project is June 2026. The irrigation potential of said project is 1,14,021 hectares.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is undertaken for every interlinking of rivers project during the preparation of FR and DPR to assess environmental and socio‑economic impacts, including those on riparian communities. Statutory environmental and wildlife clearances are obtained as required under prevailing laws. After participating States sign implementation agreements, proposals are submitted for appraisal and consideration of central support. The Cost‑sharing arrangements between the Centre and States are not uniform and are determined individually for each project.

The likely benefits of these projects covering irrigation potential, drinking water availability and overall regional water security are provided in Annexure.

To ensure transparency, ecological sustainability and equitable water distribution, the ILR programme is guided by strong institutional mechanisms such as the Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers (SCILR), the Governing Body of National Water Development Agency (NWDA) and the Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers (TFILR). These platforms enable States to review technical, environmental, social and water‑sharing aspects. All NWDA study reports are shared with States for comments, which are duly incorporated.

The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI SHRI C R PATIL in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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(Lok Sabha SQ 92)

ANNEXURE

DETAILS OF LINK PROJECTS THAT RECORDED PROGRESS OR RECEIVED APPROVALS DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS ALONG WITH ITS BENEFITS.

Sl. No	Name	States benefited	Annual Irrigation (Lakh ha)	Domestic & Industrial (MCM)	Hydro power (MW)	Year of completion of FR/DPR	Status
	Ken-Betwa link Project (KBLP)	Uttar Pradesh (UP) & Madhya Pradesh (MP)	10.62 (UP- 2.51 MP. - 8.11)	194	103 MW (Hydro) & 27MW(Solar)	DPR completed in 2018	Govt. of India has approved the implementation of KBLP in December 2021 with an estimated cost of Rs 44605 crore (year 2020-21 price level) with central support of Rs 36,290 crore through a Special Purpose Vehicle viz; Ken Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA). Honourable Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone for project on 25.12.2024. The project is to complete by March 2030.
	Godavari (Inchampalli) -Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link	Telangana	2.38	232	26	DPR completed in January, 2024	1. DPR for this modified proposal was circulated to party States in January 2024 2. Draft MoA for implementation was circulated among party states in April 2024.
	Krishna (Nagarjunasagar)- Pennar (Somasila) link	Andhra Pradesh (AP)	1.71	236	40	DPR completed in January, 2024
	Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Manimuktha) link	AP	0.51	43		DPR completed in January, 2024
		Tamil Nadu	1.14	618
		Puducherry	--	62
	Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link	MP & Rajasthan	Benefits as per MoA: MP - 6.11 Rajasthan – 4.03 Total = 10.15 lakh ha	Benefits as per MoA: MP-(71.39 drinking +21.50 industrial) = 92.9 Rajasthan –(1744.16 drinking + 205.75 industrial) = 1949.91 Total = 2043 MCM	-	MoA for implementation has been signed in year 2024	Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for preparation of DPR was signed by both the States (MP and Rajasthan) on 28.01.2024. Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for implementation has been signed in December 2024. DPRs of components of Rajasthan have been completed and uploaded on e-PAMS Portal of CWC.
	Krishna (Almatti) – Pennar link	Karnataka	0.69	464.51	----	DPR Completed in September 2025.
	Krishna (Almatti) – Pennar link	AP	1.57	10.1-Drinking water 22.3- Industrial	----	DPR Completed in September 2025.
	Bedti - Varda link	Karnataka	1.05	38	----	DPR completed in September 2022.	Presently, PFR of alternate link has been submitted to State in August 2025.
	Netravati – Hemavati link	Karnataka	0.34	--	--	PFR completed in year, 1994	Further studies are not taken up since after implementation of Yettinahole project in 2014 by Govt. of Karnataka, no surplus water is available in Netravati basin for diversion through this link.
	Godavari (SSMP/Inchampalli) -Krishna (Pulichintala) link	Telangana & AP	TOTAL 4.74 Telangana - 0.36	Telangana- 26.8	90.0	DPR completed in March 2024
	Godavari (SSMP/Inchampalli) -Krishna (Pulichintala) link	Telangana & AP	AP - 4.38	AP - 319.7	90.0	DPR completed in March 2024
	Godavari (Polavaram) -Krishna (Viayawada) link (Polavaram irrigation project)	AP	4.36	665	960	DPR was completed in 2005	Benefits included here are the total benefit under Polavaram Irrigation project.
11	Krishna (Srisailam) – Pennar link	AP	1.79	58	11	DPR completed in March 2024
	Kosi-Ghaghra link	Bihar, U.P & Nepal	Total 8.35 6.05 –Bihar	0	--	FR completed
			1.20 – U.P
			Nepal -1.10
13	Gandak - Ganga link	U.P & Nepal	Total - 34.58 U.P -28.80 Nepal -5.78	700	4375 (Dam PH) & 180 (Canal PH)	FR completed in June 2024
14	Yamuna-Rajasthan link	Haryana & Rajasthan	Haryana - 0.11	30	1702	FR completed in September, 2021
14	Yamuna-Rajasthan link	Haryana & Rajasthan	Rajasthan- 2.40	30	1702	FR completed in September, 2021
15	Rajasthan-Sabarmati link	Rajasthan & Gujarat	Total - 11.53 Rajasthan - 11.21	102	5126	FR completed in Feb, 2021
15	Rajasthan-Sabarmati link	Rajasthan & Gujarat	Gujarat-0.32	102	5126	FR completed in Feb, 2021
16	Chunar-Sone Barrage link	Bihar & U.P	Total - 0.60 Bihar - 0.10 U.P. - 0.49	--	--	FR completed in September, 2025
17.	Ganga (Farakka) - Damodar-Subarnarekha link	W.B., Odisha& Jharkhand	W.B. -11.18 Orissa- 0.39 Jharkhand- 0.73	432	--	FR completed in March 2021
18.	Subarnarekha-Mahanadi link	W.B. & Odisha	Total - 2.16 W.B. - 0.18 Orissa - 1.98	198	20	FR completed in Feb. 2021

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