Interlinking of rivers in India

Part-2.
Water for future perfect

There is no other option but to develop and manage scarce water resources, says M.S.menon.

There are suggestions that water availability can be ensured better by demand management rather than opting for supply management through costly water transfers. The option of import of food grains to meet its shortfall instead of investing in mega project s has also been mooted by some others.
The transfer of water from surplus areas to deficit areas to meet local requirements is not a new concept world over since presently a transfer of 540 BCM of water through man-made links is occurring globally every year. Even in India, long distance water transfer is in existence since centuries, such as the Western Yamuna Canal, Kurnool-Cuddappah Canal, etc., annually transferring 29 BCM of water through various links at present. People continue to reap benefits from these projects.
Why then there is so much criticism against the proposal for a national water grid? The reason is not far to seek. The critics have not got their fundamentals right. In a scenario of undependable and irregular monsoon like ours the suggested alternative of small storages would dry up with failing monsoons, negating the very purpose for which they are built. The oft repeated demand management option, by itself, cannot meet the needed future requirements of 1200BCM of water by the year2050 as we have harnessed only about 10% of the annual available surface flows at present.
Regarding imports, it is needless to say that the current world trade in food grains is too small to feed India’s surging population and hence, we cannot afford to be not self sufficient in food grain production. The objections raised on the feasibility of the water project construction quoting likely technical problems in pumping, tunnelling works, etc. have been ruled out by engineers since, according to them, these are not insurmountable with modern technology. Environmental awareness and related issues being recent developments at the international level, knowledge on environmental impacts is limited even to those who suggest concerned studies.
Interference with nature is not an abomination and with gaining experience, this issue would be addressed with great understanding to mitigate the adverse impacts as is being done in the ongoing projects in the country. There is also no dispute on the fact that for the resettlement and rehabilitation of the project affected people, a humanitarian approach is needed. Considering the happenings in other water resource projects, it is certain that timely responsive actions would be taken by the experienced implementing agencies in this regard.
The country has no option but to develop and manage its fresh water resources or face increasing distress in coming years. The challenge is to cope with the entire gamut of needs; water needs, land use needs and terrestrial and aquatic eco-system needs. To reconcile the conflict of interests, balancing of human livelihood interests against unavoidable environmental consequences has to be achieved. Since humans are an evident part of the eco-system, it has to be realised that change and disturbances are unavoidable and are a part of the natural and human dominated landscapes.
Development has to be sustainable. But with a rapidly growing population living on the margin of subsistence, whether sustainability is possible without adequate development is the moot point, since poverty is the worst polluter and with growing population the pressure becomes greater. It is within these constraints that development must progress with sustainability a critical criterion.
Inter-basin transfer of water represents a great challenge and opportunity for the country. It is not an end by itself but a means to an end- the end is to alleviate poverty and improve quality of life while protecting the environment. The projects and links would make the states interdependent fostering day to day cooperation, thus proving as an integrating factor facilitating the discharge of responsibilities towards the states and citizens. Too much of analysis is paralysing us into inaction. Let us remain vigilant of the vested interests and embedded activists concerned only with their sustainability. We should not allow them to paint a bleak picture of our efforts for sustainable development. (concluded)
(The Pioneer, dt.10th March,2004)