Concerns over India\\\'s river-linking project

India's river-linking project has come for widespread discussion again with reports published in Indian media about the intention of the Indian government to go ahead with a grand plan of linking rivers across the country connecting Teesta-Ganga-Manas-Sankosh that will cover three Indian states of West Bengal, Assam and Bihar. It is natural that there would be concern in Bangladesh as Bangladesh and India share 54 rivers. These rivers flow from India. The Ganges, partly originated from China, flows through Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The Brahmaputra, originated in China, passes through India and Bangladesh. A portion of the catchment of the Brahmaputra lies in Bhutan. The Dhorola and the Dudkumar originate in Bhutan and pass through India to Bangladesh. The Meghna originates from Assam. The Manas and the Sankosh rivers are tributaries of India's Brahmaputra river which is called the Jamuna in Bangladesh. These rivers also feed the Brahmaputra. Naturally, if waters of these rivers are diverted in the upstream there will be less flow and less water in the Jamuna, the Padma and the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh.
The Indian river-linking project has three major components -- the Himalayan rivers inter-link component, a southern peninsular component and an intra-state river linking component. So far as literature goes, there are 14 inter-link projects under the Himalayan component, 16 project proposals under the peninsular component and 36 six projects under the intra-state component. The Teesta-Ganga-Manas-Sankosh link falls under the Himalayan rivers inter-link component.
In a nutshell, under Himalayan component, the projects are aimed to construct a series of dams for storage reservoirs along the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers and their principal tributaries. Canals would be built to transfer surplus water from the eastern states to southern and western states of India. The objectives cover flood control in the Ganga and the Brahmaputro rivers, irrigation of an additional area of 22 million hectares and generation of about 30 million kilowatt of hydro-power. Taken the benefits of proposed peninsular river inter-link component, the total expected additional irrigated area will be 35 million hectares and generation of 40 million kilowatt hydro-power. The project is also expected to yield food security to rising Indian population.
The idea of inter-linking of rivers in India was first proposed by engineer Arthur Cotton in the 19th century. He floated this idea to hasten the import and export of goods and meeting shortage of water and droughts in Orissa and Andhara Pradesh. In the 1970s, then irrigation minister of India K.L. Rao proposed "National Water Grid" to provide water from surplus area to deficit area. In line with his proposal several inter-basin transfer projects were successfully implemented. He suggested scaling up of such programme.
In 1980, Ministry of Water Resources of India prepared a report entitled "National Perspectives for Water Resources Development. It suggested two components for water development project - the Himalayan component and the Peninsular component. The Congress government abandoned the plan.
In 1982, a committee of experts was formed through National Water Development Agency (NWDA) which produced many reports over more than three decades. In 1999, the central government of India adopted an "intra-basin" development project. The Congress came to power again and opposed  the  project and plan in 2004. After that various studies were done to study and feasibility of river-linking projects.
There are opposing views about river-linking projects in India. BJP-led NDA government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee supported river-linking project and the Congress appears to be opposing it. It may be mentioned that the Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said in 2009 that inter-linking of rivers is dangerous and have severe environmental implications.
The proposed intra-state river-linking projects of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland and West Bengal raise further concern as some rivers and tributaries flow from those states to Bangladesh.
Proponents of river-linking project in India suggest that water situation is critical in that country and the mega project will enable sustainable development and management of surface water and ground water usage.
Experts in Bangladesh suggest that diversion of water through the river-linking project of Teesta-Ganges-Manas-Sankosh rivers will have catastrophic impact on Bangladesh. It will diminish water flow in Bangladesh's major rivers like the Teesta, the Padma and the Jamuna. These rivers are already groaning due to inadequate water flow caused by Teesta Barrage and Farakka Barrage built in the upstream of these rivers by India. Any further intervention in the upstream will have an adverse effect on the ecology of Bangladesh. There may be waterlogging, salinisation and even desertification. It may affect the habitation, livelihood and fisheries in Bangladesh. Even in India, opinion goes in some quarters of experts that river-linking project will have environmental, ecological, hydrological, geological and economical impact. It may result in displacement of people and may have negative impact on fresh water aquatic ecosystem.
India is aware of Bangladesh's concern. Apart from various negative impacts, tinkering with nature may invite unknown and unseen risks for India - and more for Bangladesh.
According to international norms, diversion of water or construction of dams in the upstream of transboundary rivers can not be done without taking the lower riparian  country/countries on board. It is expected that India will do so. It may be recalled that there was a declaration in the joint communiqué signed by the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India in 2010 that the common rivers would be managed through a basin-wide approach. India is supposed to honour it. In the meantime, the government of Bangladesh should prepare itself with scientific studies and legal arguments against the negative impacts of river-linking project of India on Bangladesh's environment, ecology, social displacement and the livelihood of the people.

The writer is an economist and a former environment secretary.
chowdhuryjafar@ymail.com