River Linking Project

Interlink project & Bangladesh's protests

THE PROPOSED project on interlinking of rivers (ILR) is back in the news due to criticism from an unexpected source, neighbouring Bangladesh. According to reports from there, Bangladesh wants international mediation to get rid of the mega project being planned by India. Using disinformation, Bangladesh is creating an impression in the world fora that the life saving waters of the Brahmaputra and the Ganga would be diverted by India to ultimately cause water scarcity in Bangladesh. For justifying its stand, various myths have been engendered and project features distorted by excessive generalisation to get public emotions come in the way of rational judgment.
This is not the first time Bangladesh indulged in spreading canards on Indian water resources projects. Many issues on the waters of the common rivers have been under contention between the two countries for decades. However, continued negotiations in a cordial atmosphere under a favourable combination of various internal and external circumstances helped the two to promote a constructive dialogue culminating in a treaty (1996) between the two governments for sharing the lean flows of the Ganga at Farakka. Even then, off and on there have been complaints from Bangladesh that it is getting less than its share of water as provided for in the treaty. However, the data obtained through joint flow observations by the two countries confirm India's stand that it is fully honouring the provisions of the treaty.
Peninsular component
The ILR project as being planned now on the basis of studies carried out since 1980 by the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) of India envisages a peninsular rivers component for water transfer from surplus to deficit basins in the southern part of the subcontinent and a Himalayan rivers component. The plan under the Himalayan component proposes to divert excess flood waters of the eastern tributaries of the Ganga to the parched lands of Western India; similarly, the excess flood water of northern tributaries of the Brahmaputra i.e. Manas and Sankosh rivers, causing floods in Assam and Bangladesh, to the drought prone areas in the east and southeast parts. Water balance studies carried out have established that excess flood water (after meeting all in-basin requirements in the foreseeable future) is available at all diversion points planned on the Himalayan rivers. All the link proposals under the Himalayan component involving other countries are based on desk studies and are at a conceptual stage of planning at present.
The task force constituted by the Union Ministry of Water Resources on the ILR proposal gave priority to taking up the peninsular links since the Himalayan links require understanding with neighbouring countries. Hence, further action involving international rivers is to be taken up at a later stage in consultation with the Ministries concerned when the detailed projects are drawn up. The task force also submitted two action plans to the government of India in this regard. The ILR programme has to go through various stages before its actual implementation as at present, feasibility studies on the links of the peninsular component alone have been completed. The government thinking is also along these lines as evident from the National Common Minimum Programme.
A study of the available data indicates that the average annual flows in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basin in India are estimated at 1200 billion cubic metres. Of this only 3 per cent would be considered for diversion outside the basin in the Himalayan rivers component of the project.
Hidden agenda
Why then is there so much opposition to the project from Bangladesh?
It is the result of a campaign spearheaded to malign India by spreading wrong information, based on subjective conclusions; it is the hidden agenda of the powers that be to sabotage India's Herculean efforts to mitigate the ravages of floods in both the countries.
The policy of the government of India is to implement the project in a fully consultative manner and at present, only the peninsular component is being taken up, which in no way affects Bangladesh. We have been all along going out of the way to accommodate our neighbour's demands. Taking this as weakness, Bangladesh may next insist that India get clearance from it even for planning a project in the interior Madhya Pradesh on the Chambal river just because it is in the GBM basin. Why should we succumb to such pressure tactics and test the patience of our countrymen?
India has already clarified its stand on these issues. Now, instead of remaining defensive, it should act and proceed further with its plans for detailed studies on the Himalayan component even if the ILR proposals for this component are not a priority for the Government. Indians have every right to know whether the much talked about projects are feasible on the ground. Just to please Bangladesh our people should not be asked to wait for years to get this basic information. After field studies of the Himalayan component are completed by India, at the implementation stage, a dialogue with Bangladesh can be considered, if necessary.

(The Hindu, 15th March, 2005)




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