Wshop Int. Riv. Bas. (Dec 2004), Jour. Engg. Geol. (ISEG), Vol. XXXI, No. 1-4, Dec 2004 Keynote A d d r ^

Interlinking of river basins in - Alternative layout

Harsh Gupta

Abstract

Interlinking of river basins in India, has been discussed over the years but could not be given a proper shape due to lack of financial resources, or lack of will for implementation. Basically three important alternative proposals w/ere considered- the Dastur's Plan, Dr. K.L.Rao’s Plan for linking of Ganga and Cauvery and a proposal of NWDA, for linking various river systems for irrigation. This paper, while dwelling upon these alternatives briefly, discusses the pros and cons with respect to topography, hydrology and geotechnlcal aspects. Transfer of very large amount of water from Ganga and Brahmputra by having major link canals would require consumption of Hydroelectric power for stage pumping from El. 250m to 500m.

Through this paper, the author proposes a Mega Project, having major link canals from Ghaghra to Ganga, Ganga to Chambal, Brahmputra to Cauvery, and a Garland canal linking various parts of U.P., Bihar, West , Orissa, for irrigating central and southern parts of India. He also indicates possibilities of creating number of dams and reservoirs enroute so that additional storage capacity and hydroelectric potential could be generated from within the system, through a number of powerhouses located south of the Vindhyans, in order to compensate loss of stage uplifting of water at Rana-Pratap sagar and Gandhisagar Dams on river Chambal. An additional link from Ootacmund to Raichur is also proposed to augment supply to southern link canal from Pandurna to Dundigal.

Introduction -NWG, by learned Dr. K.L.Rao, the then Chairman, CWPC (Rao, 1975) wherein the Interlinking of river basins in India, has idea limited to linking of Brahmputra and the remained an unresolved issue over decades Ganga with Cauvery, was mooted to provide either due to lack of financial resources or irrigable water to the water deficient regions lack of will for implementation; this issue has Southern India. Earlier to this, a scheme been debated upon in various fora and a was put forwarded by captain M.N. Dastur, number of approaches and schemes have airlines pilot that mainly comprised; been formulated from time to time. (s) ^200 Km long 300m wide Himalayan After its initial conception as visualized by Canal at el. between 457 m and 335m Sir. Arthur Cotton of the then British Rajya above MSL, aligned along the southern in India, primarily as a navigation scheme, slope of Himalayas running from Ravi the project was reconsidered in mid 'h the west and Brahmputra and seventies, under the National Water policy beyond in the east, with pondage created in the form of some 90 lakes.

Director, Engineering Geology (NJP) 8th Floor, A Block, Vashundhara, Geological Sun/ey of India, Aliganj, Lucknow 226 024 (b) The southern and central region was 2. Godavari (Inchumpalli Low Dam)- covered by a garland canal which was Krishna (Nagarjunasagar Tail Pond) 9300 km in length 300m wide. These Link. two canal systems were suggested to 3. Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna be connected at two points one near (Vijaywada) Link. Delhi the other near Patna. 4. Krishna (Almatti) -Pennar Link. Implementation of this Mega Project, ever- 5. Krishna (Srisailam) - Pennar Link. since, had remained in the mindset of our 6. Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) -Pennar National Water Development Agency under (Somasila) Link. whose direction the proposal of interlinking 7. Pennar (Somasila) -Cauvery (Grand of river basins is contemplated in India. anicut) Link. Various alternative schemes are under 8. Cauvery-(Kattalai)-Vagai-Gundar-Link. consideration of the NWDA, who is working 9. Ken -Betwa Link. with other nodal agencies like the Geological 10. Parbati-Kalsindhi -Chambal Link. Survey of India, etc. in carrying out different 11. Par-Tapi-Narmada Link. stages of feasibility studies. (Srivastava et. 12. Damanganga-Pinjal Link. al.,2002). 13. Bedthi-Vardha Link. Under the National Perspective Policy two 14. Netravati -Hemavati Link. main components viz. a) the Himalayan 15. Pamba-Achankovii Component with 19 links and b) a Peninsular Component with 17 links were defined. The NWDA in 1991-92 made headway when it Approach and Objective identified besides the above links, 49 diversion points and 55 storage reservoirs In the initial proposal the desired scheme after topographical studies. The details of was planned mainly for navigation but the link schemes are as under; subsequently under the Nation Water Policy, the main approach was diverted to provide a. Himalayan Development Component surplus water to deficient areas. 1. Brahmputra-Ganga Link (Manas- Transferring of about 1680 cumecs of this Sankosh-Tista-Ganga) Link. vital resource would require uplifting by 2. Kosi - Ghagra Link. pumping to the order of 50-550m in height, 3. Gandak -Ghagra Link. and would require a huge amount of energy 4. Ghagra - Yamuna Link. intake. The country’s power resources are 5. Sarda -Yamuna Link. already very less and the requirement will 6. Yamuna Link. increase manifold in the years to come. As 7. Chunar -Sone Barrage Link. such the power required for this project shall 8. Son Dam-Southern tributaries of Ganga have to be drawn from within the system. It link. would also be very important to harness the 9. Ganga -Damodar -Subernarehka Link. hydro potential thus generated within the 10. Subernrekha -Mahanadi Link. system is to be distributed as a regulated 11. Kosi-Machi Link. supply for irrigation besides power 12. Farakka. Bramputra - Ganga Link generation throughout the year. Hence, the (Jogigopa -Tista -Farakka Link) Mega Project shall have to be a multipurpose scheme, for navigation, to b. Peninsular River Development provide irrigation in water scarcity areas, Component power generation, flood control in surplus 1. Mahanadi (Manibhadra)-Godavari areas and also supply water for domestic & (Dowlaiswaram) Link. industrial needs. In order to fulfil the above objective our goal should therefore be; Geologically, the canal route from • Diversion of surplus discharge of Indo- Dibrugarh to Munger lies in the Quaternary Gangetic-Brahmputra basins into river sediments mainly comprising assorted basins of Maharastra, Gujarat, Andhra coarse sands, fine sands and silt occurring Karnataka and other states south of the as high level terrace deposits of the Vindhyans. Brahmputra and Ganga Plains. As one • Examine status of existing projects comes down towards the west the grain size • Review status of projects under reduces. In the Bihar Plains the ground construction water levels are shallow, as such, problems • Inter relationship with other projects, of slope failures in the soft unconsolidated highways, railways, etc. deposits and marshy ground conditions • Future planning; Review capacity, would be encountered during excavation of power generation, yield/ fetch and the canal. discharges, their Moreover, a Right Bank Canal linking systems, command areas of existing Ganga -Son, etc, off-taking from Kanpur or Irrigation and Power Projects and plan Patna at an elevation of 100 m+ would them as part of the Mega scheme, with considerably reduce the hydrological regime up-gradation and modifications. of the Indo-Gangetic system as the Ganga • Review possibilities of interlinking and its tributaries would have already been routes, reservoirs, diversion points and diverted to the western sector. Instead, it power generation points, etc. would be prudent to restrict the diversion of • Plan phasing out of the Mega Project Brahmputra for basinal transfer to Southern into executable smaller units. Sector at Munger, and cross it over Ganga, by constructing an aqueduct over Ganga (as All the above alternative proposals have discussed in suggested scheme, Fig.1). The their own benefits and limitations. It should layout would be more or less similar to that be our effort to foresee that an optimised proposed by NWDA, except that no water blueprint of this Mega Project is finalised from Ganga would be added to the lower after deliberations and thorough studies, canal system. A suitable bed gradient need taking all the pros and cons in the wider to be given to this East Coast Canal with perspective, before taking up the enroute augmentations from Mahanadi, components schemes, for feasibility studies Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery and other and execution, individually. rivers. Construction of a Himalayan Canal as Geologically, the southern banks of Ganga suggested by M.N. Dastur, would have been form terraces with assorted riverine a possibility in the pre-independence period. sediments and residual soils derived from Diversion of Brahmputra linked with Manas. the rock of Bundelkhand Granite, the Tista. Sankosh. and Gandak to the western Vindhyans, Gondwana and other Groups section (i.e. west of Delhi), may be a difficult and the pediplains of Mahanadi, Godavari proposition due to our territorial boundaries deltas, Krishna delta, etc. with Bhutan, , and Nepal. In the Western Sector, the diversion of Further, with a Diversion Structure surplus waters of Ghagra. Sarda. and somewhere near Dibrugarh (el. 150m) on the Ramganga rivers through a common canal, right bank of Brahmputra, a canal via could be diverted to Bhimgoda Headworks Dhekachuli, Jalpaiguri and Kishanganj etc., (existing) on Ganga and then transfer it to may be viable at El. 100m ± only, and unduly the Main and the extending it upto either Patna or Kanpur Main Link Cana! systems for transfer of (El. 138m) would not be economical. Ganga to Chambal, that could be planned as described in suggested Scheme at item elevations 250m to 306m and from 306m to B (Fig. 1c). This diversion canal linked with 507m in two stages, after suitable the Narwara Branch canal of Bhakra Main remodelling of additional capacity at Canal could be possible at an elevation of Gandhisagar, if finally found feasible. about El. +250m. The Main Link Canal The Western Ganga Main Link Canal lies extending upto Bagwantnagar would in the interfluves of Rivers Yamuna and transfer the water to Kota Dam reservoir on Sutlei. and primarily runs along the higher Chambal; thereafter, water has to be level terraces of the Indo-Gangetic Plains pumped upto Gandhi Sagar Dam from following the Aravallis, and the Chambal ravines, partly through the desert area of fall in Narmada at Rajpipla (resevoir at Kishangarh, adjoining of Badharpur and Kathi) via Heran Dam (Canal Route D1, Rajgarh in Rajasthan. Fig-1). After stage-lifting from Ganga Main Link The Western Ghat has over 2000 m.m. Canal upto Gandhisagar, the water could be annual rainfall, but the Ghats offers a very routed into the Main Garland Canal System rugged topography with very steep slopes from Bhiwani Mandi into a number of drained by a number of rivers like Kalinadi. reservoirs and interlinking canals (as per Bedthi. Varahi. Mahadai. Netravati. suggested Scheme Alternative C, C1 -C2 Hemavati. etc. that straight away debouch (Fig 1), that are briefly outlined in the into the Arabian Sea. There are a number relevant chapter, described below) shall run of creeks in the Ghat section that offer very along the rock formations belonging to good communication links for inland Vindhyans, Gondwanas, the Deccan Traps movement from the sea. Regular Steamer and Peninsular Gneisses etc. The Garland service for passengers and transportation Canal will either fall in Narmada at Kathi of mine ores is in operation since long. All where a powerhouse could be contemplated three systems - viz. road, railway and (Canal Route E1, Fig.-1). waterway already exist. Moreover, a number Alternatively, the Garland Canal called the of river valley projects are also in various Vindhyan Parikrama, could be extended stages of development for utilising the full from Pandurna-Amravati, Akola with capacity of the rivers flowing in to the reservoirs on rivers PenQanaa/Wainaanaa. Arabian Sea. As such, a canal system on via Nanded (Purna). Gulbarga, Pandharpur, the western slopes of the Ghat would be Raichur, (Ttinggbhadra) down to uneconomical and unfeasible viewing the Seshachalam Hills, Kadiri, and Palkonda - constraints. with a P.H. at Kalchasti near Vellore. This Geologically, these slopes are also very link Canal via Mettur Dam, Mettupalaiyam steep and rugged and topographically do not and Dindigul could be finally discharged into favour construction of a 100 m wide canal Varshalai river with routing to drop into the system. These slopes are prone to Brahmputra - Mahanadi Lower Canal landslides as well. On the other hand the System (Canal Route E2, Fig.1). This eastern slope of the Western Ghats have alternative System would cover a major part relatively gentler slopes that could offer of Central and Southern India that could also better conditions for developing a canal be used as a navigational canal besides system. The ground elevations are higher providing irrigation to the water deficient on the southern side, starting at El. 2670m parts of Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, from Ootuckmond, the slopes fall gradually Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. towards north and east, covering parts of -Mahi Link Canal is suggested to Mysore, Bangalore, Chitradurga, Shimoga have its initiation at the Hirake Barrage as and Dharwar at el. around 700 m. A high part of the Rajasthan (Indira Canal?) that level canal interconnecting major rivers such will start from near Jellanabad and would as Tunaabhadra. Krishna. Koyna. etc. run through Rajasthan via Pokharan, through the existing reservoir and canal Phalsund, Panchpadra (Luni), Bagota, network, without disturbing the downstream Dhanera, Deera Palanpur plains of Banas regime and functions of already existing (El. 150m), Saraswati. Mahesana, Rakhail projects, therefore, could be planned to (MahiV and shall run as Mahi R.B. Canal, divert the surplus discharge of the southern to drop in reservoir at Headwork of rivers toward north and connected to a Sabarmati and may be extended to join canal system, so that un-irrigated areas of Narmada High level Canal. It could finally Maharastra, Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu could be benefited (suggested Nilgiri the entire canal route should be studied so - Raichur link - (Canal Route F, Fig.1). as to record water-logged areas and design the canal lining accordingly

Feasibility studies Environment, forest, fisheries, health Status of existing environmental setup For carrying out the feasibility of the related to Forest cover, landuse, fauna and “Interlinking of River Basins”, the following flora, impact on reserved sanctuaries, etc. parameters have to be considered; should be assessed, and measures to tackle the situation in the changed scenario should Hydrological and engineering be planned well in advance. Study of any considerations related health hazard should be undertaken, Hydrology plays a vital role in the design of River Valley Projects. The monsoon flood Detailed surveying, geological mapping and lean season discharge of all major rivers and exploration shall have to be assessed and quantified These studies should follow immediately for sustainable routing into the Main Canal after preliminary assessment of the Mega System throughout the year. Storage Project, so that the layout can be transferred capacity of the various reservoirs and the on the ground. canal need to be planned for accommo­ dating the available water. Engineering pre­ Economic, administrative feasibility of all major civil structures, viz. surveys, rehabilitation and others. dams, reservoirs. Power Houses, stoplog Economic Surveys to assess the costing of gates, siphons, aqueducts, etc. should be the prcyect, assessment of land required to taken up for the entire scheme as a whole. be acquired for the project components and land for rehabilitation, cost of a forestation, Geotechnlcal Considerations reclamation, compensation, etc. should also A preliminary Geotechnical assessment of be made. all the major civil structures with regards to It may further be added that the National foundation conditions, reservoir competency Water Development Agency should be supplemented with aerial photo­ strengthened on the lines of National interpretation, tunnelling and excavation, Highway Authority of India, to generate its quality of ground material and availability of own funds and resources for the construction material, geo-mechanical implementation of the Mega Project. studies, should be simultaneously carried It is needless to say that different experts out. in their respective fields carry out the above studies. However, their interdependency Slope stability, Neotectonic and cannot be flouted, as over looking one field seismic studies of study could alarmingly influence the Geo-stability of Dam abutments, slopes of safety and overall cost of the project and canals, powerhouses and other appurtenant can disrupt the eco-system, scheduling and structures should be assessed critically execution of the project in the long run. There are of course certain ground truths Geo-hydrological Considerations; that the planners shall have to bear with and Availability of ground water, level of these are the inherent constraints. Some of ground water the technical constraints that need to be Groundwater contour maps may be considered are: prepared and groundwater conditions along optimize the implementation and feasibility Constraints with certain modifications are proposed as follows: • Diversion of Brahmputra into the main systenn at elevations above +150 m not A1. Brahmputra - Ganga - Link possible due to territorial boundaries (General El. 150 m) with Bhutan, Bangla Desh and Nepal. In this part of the proposal the main • Diversion either at Monghyr or Patna Brahmputra-Ganga Link Canal takes off on likely into Ganga for lower system may the right bank of Brahmputra at Dibrugarh. influence settlements on the banks of A diversion structure is suggested for the major rivers canal. The proposed canal shall run from • Maximum Ground elevation for Dibrugarh via Dhekajuli, Tamalpur, Longa, northern river system in the western Alipur-Daurand Siliguri, etc. tojoinn Ganga sector is constraint at elevation 250m near Munger/ Jamalpur. The canal will (approx) for main canal upto Chambai collect water from Subansiri, Kameng, along Arvallies, west of Delhi. Manas, Jaldhaka, Tista. Mahananda and • Transfer of Ganga water into the lower Kosi (Bihar) at suitable points canal system to Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, etc. would also A2.Ganga/Brahmputra- Mahanadi - require uplifting by pumping, instead Lower Link (General El. 100m) simply transferring of Brahmputra Alternatively an aqueduct over Ganga for across the Ganga by an aqueduct may crossing the Brahmputra Main Canal at be an economical proposition and this Monger could be designed and layout the would not greatly effect the regime of Main canal along the right bank of Ganga the Ganga in areas in the downstream. and take it via, Dumka, Asansol, Bankura, • Steep slopes along the Western Ghats Dhalbhum, enroute augmenting its supply experience heavy rainfall. from Subernrekha. Mahanadi. Godavari • A good network of road and railway through Baripada, Palasuni, Talcher route already exists, besides there are Daspalla, Ganjam, Udaigiri, Vizainagram, already a number of hydroelectric Narsipatnam, Nagavaram, Visanapeta, projects under operation and in Guntur, Viunkonda, Darsi, Podili, Udayagiri progress. in A.P. It shall continue to Pallempet, • The Ghat is thickly forested and does Chandragiri, Vellore, joining Chevvar. not require additional irrigation following a route from Gingee, Villupuram, facilities. (Ponnaaiyar) Chinna Salem, Perambelur, • The steep slopes do not offer suitable (Cauverv^ Tirichchirapalli, Pudukkottai, ground conditions for construction of Madurai, (Vaigail Virudhanagar, to finally wide canals (at El. 500m) as these are meet river Vayappar. for irrigation and serve prone to landslide problems. as inland water communication route.

B.Ghaghra-Sarda-Ganga-Yamuna- Proposed Scheme SutleJ Link Alternative B1: In the western sector, the In view of the above constraints and many diversion of the Main Ganga - Chambai link other related unforeseen conditions, a Canal augmented with supply of rivers; proposal, based of studies made by the Kauriala. Ghaahra. Ramaanqa and Sarda author after consultation of maps and interconnecting existing reservoirs on these literature (Anon. 1971, 2000) that could rivers at suitable locations through a canal link via Ghaghra Barrage, creating a C. Vindhayn Parikrama Reservoir on Sarda), going over to Bilauri, Main Gariand Canal - I : The main Garland Deoha (Raise Dam IHeight) Kichha, Canal suggested at a general ground El. 500 IHaripura, Baur, and Kalluwala, (Umaria m MSL can be planned under two alternative Dam). Ramganga Dam, , Khoh Dam, to schemes (Anon. 1971, 2002). One of the Kotdwar, and finally transferring their water proposal under Cl starting from into Ganga at Bhimgoda Headwork, Gandhisagar reservoir shall follow a route (Ganga) near Haridwar.The Ganga Main from Jhalawar crossing river Ahu to Sunel Link canal shall run as Upper Ganga Canal Choti joining Kalisindh with Manpura dam via Jhinjhana , Panipat (Create Barrage) reservoir, via Guna will cross over into Karnal, Rohtak (as W.Y Canal), then as Damodar valley with creation of intermittent Sutlej-Yamuna Canal, it could be routed reservoirs on Barakar. and Damodar taking from Kalanaur, Beri Khas, Farukhnagar, cognizance of the already existing DVC Pataudi Kishangarh, Bahadurpur, Rajgarh project shall further cross over into joining river Banaanaa (after creating a Mahanadi basin via N. Puralia, Chaibasa, reservoir), Toda Bhim, Karauli, Morel Tank, Lodhani, Deogarh, etc. to fall into Hirakud Dhil Tank (Banas). Bagwant nagar (Create Resevoir on Mahanadi river, whereafter it a High Dam on BanasV Galwa, Bundika can follow a route from north of Biiaspur via Godhra, to finally drop into the Kota Dam Ratanpur, Rajnandagaon, Katangi, Achalpur (Ranapratap Sagar) (el.306m),from where via Burhanpur and Bijagarh to Kathi, where the canal water shall have to be pumped to a fall of about 300m could be utilized to Gandhisagar Dam (Chambal Stage -II, el. generate power before falling into a 507m Reversible Pumped Storage) reservoir formed with a dam at Kathi on river constructed across river Chambal .The off­ Narmada. The waters of Tapti could be take of Main Garland Canal -I may be transferred into the Narmada through a located at Bhiwanimandi. tunnel or a high level canal (Proposal C1, Alternative B2: In the second alternative Figl.). to proposal B1, rest of the system remaining Within this setup it is also suggested to same, it is suggested to construct a barrage benefit the southern parts of Akhajhiri, on Ganaa near Bijnor and off-take the Main Lalitpur, SW-Chhattarpur, Panna, Link canal via Jalalabad, Jhinjhana (As Devendranagar, Rewa etc in Uttar Pradesh Upper Ganga Canal), Panipat (Create and Madhya Pradesh, by utilizing additional Barrage) Karnal, Rohtak (as W.Y Canal), pondages across rivers Betwa (-U/S of Main then as Sutlej-Yamuna Canal, Kalanaur, via Dam at Lalitpur). Dhasan (create reservoir Beri Khas, Farukhnagar, Pataudi across Dhasan). Ken (create reservoir), and Kishangarh, Bahadurpur, Rajgarh river Son near Sidhi, by constructing a high (Banganga), Toda Bhim, Karauli, Morel dam across Son. Likewise the minor canal Tank, Dhil Tank to drop into a reservoir could extended to Gopad. Riband (Rihand formed near Bagwant nagar (Create a High Dam), via Sukhra Tank (Kanhar), to fall into Dam on Banas. Galwa , Bundika Godhra, reservoir of N.Koel after creating a High to Kota Dam (Ranapratap Sagar at Dam on North Koel, through Daltonganj El.306m), Gandhisagar Dam (Chambal before it joins the Main Canal after crossing Stage -II, El. 507m, with a Reversible into Damodar Valley. Additional intermittent Pumped Storage on Chambal. The off-take reservoirs on Barakar. and Pamodar have of Main Garland Canal -I may start at been also taking cognizance of the already Bhiwanimandi, existing DVC project. Further this canal wiii cross over into Mahanadi basin via N. Purulia, Chaibasa, and Lodhani, Deogarh etc. to fall into Hirakud Resevoir, whereafter joins the main reservoir at Hirakud Dam. it can follow a route from north of Bilaspur Beyond Hirakud reservoir the canal may as per proposal - C2, (Fig 1). follow the path of alternative C1 as Alternatively the Garland Canal as per the discussed above. above suggestion may follow a route from The Garland canal beyond Hirakud could Katanga onwards through Pandurna- then be routed under two diversion Amravati, Akola joining Penqanqa. Purna alternatives as given below: Sodawari with reservoirs built for Alternative D1: The canal is proposed augmenting pondage near Hingoli, Nanded, further from Ratanpur, Kawardha, Parbhani, Paithon (resevoir?), and then led Rajnandgaon, Seoni, Katangi, Deogarh to to Gangakher Deglur, Medak, North of Kathi via Achalpur, Burhanpur, Asirgarh, Hyderabad. Further south the canal course Bijagarh, and Pansemal. It is also proposed could be diverted via Tandur, Gulbarga, to generate power, by having a PH and a Akalkote, Barsi, Pandharpur, Sindgi, and storage dam at Kathi (el. 150m to 200m) on Lingsugur, to Raichur .A resevoir at Sandur L.B. of Narmada (Anon. 1971, 2000). could be used to include water from Alternative 02: A second alternative starts Tunqabhadra near Sandur. The Garland from Ratanpur, Kawardha, Rajnandgaon, canal after giving a suitable bed fall if Seoni, Katangi, Pandurna-Amravati, Akola designed along the central part of Andhra (Penganga) Hingoli, Nanded (Purna), Jintur, and Karnataka states via Anantpur, Parbhani, Paithon Sodawari, Gangakher Pulivendia, Seshachalam Hills, Kadiri, could Deglur, Medak, North of Hyderabad, Tandur, irrigate a vast dry lands befbre leading to Gulbarga, Akalkote, Barsi, Pandharpur, Palkonda to take advantage of high fall to Sindgi, Lingsugur, Raichur, (Tungabhadra) generate hydro-power at a P.H. at Kalchasti. Sandur, Anantpur, Pulivendia, Seshachalam The canal may be extended further south Hills, Kadiri, Palkonda - P.H. at Kalchasti, taking unutilized waters to Vellore, Vellore, Jolarpettai, Mettur Dam, Adieu, Jolarpettai, Mettur Dam, Andiyur, Mettupalaiyam Dindigul so as to discharge Mettupalaiyam Dindlgul before it is finally into Varshalai. discharged into Varshalai for tail routing into the Lower Brahmputra- Mahanadi Canal £. Sutlej -Mahi -Sabarmati- Narmada System at el. 100m + (Canal Route D2). Link Main Garland Canal - I I : The Main Garland Starting as partof the existing Indira Canal, Canal proposed at a general ground el. Rajasthan at Hirke Barrage on Sutlej (el. 500m can be alternatively planned as 210m), the main link canal takes off from proposal under C2, starting from the Rajasthan canal, near Manakasar, and Gandhisagar Reservoir after crossing runs via Pokharan, Phalsund, to Kalisindh river. The canal can be routed via Panchpadra, where it crosses river Luni, It Manohar Thana Barsad, Sironj, Sindhana, is laid-out through Bagota, Dhanera, Deera (Betwa) Vidisha, Bareli, so as to cross into to Palanpur plains of Banas (el. 150m), Narmada on Right Bank. It is suggested to where it meets Saraswati river. Thereafter construct a high dam at Sobhapur on it runs to Mahesana, Rakhail (Mahi), and Narmada river, with an Off-take on Right joins Mahi R.B. Canal, and again led to drop Bank to proceed from Narsimhapur, into a reservoir at Headworks of Sabarmati. Jabalpur, Singwara, Shahdol, Janakpur, Beyond this point, it extend and join Muri (Rehar, Dudhi Dam), Mankheri, Narmada High Level Canal, Heran Dam, Ramgarh, Sonuhata, Chaibasa Torlow, Narmada at Rajpipla (Narmada Sagar) and Lodhani, Deogarh. This Garland canal Karjan where a High Dam is recommended thereafter cross into Mahanadi basin, and to be constructed and it also interconnects' Tapi and Narmada reservoir by a tunnel and section would mean complete drying a dam at Kathi (Fig.1). out of the river in its downsteam regime. F. W6st Coast-NilgSri- Raichur- Link A. Alternatively, a cross-over of This proposed high level canal on the Brahmputra- Mahanadi Link Canal by eastern side of the western Ghats starts having an aqueduct over Ganga would near Ootacmund from elevation 2637m be better a preposition. (Anon. 1971) and gradually falls down to el. 5. Interbasinai Transfer in the western 500m towards the north of the peninsula. section i.e. Ghagra-Sarda- Ramganga- There are a number of major rivers that flow Ganga-Yamuna and Sutlej (Joining eastward like, Cauvery, Krishna, Narwara branch of Bhakra Main Canal) Tungabhadra, Malaprabha and Vedavati etc. to Chambal at via On which a number of major dams are Rohtak, Kishangarh, etc. and having a present. It is quite likely that during monsoon pumped canal for uplifting of water from enough run-off would be available even after the Main Ganga Link Canal into the all these reservoirs are filled up to leave Gandhisagar upto el. 500 m (+/-) may excess water that could be released to the be considered. The elevation of the Central India and northern part of the Main Ganga Link Canal shall be Peninsula. restricted to el. 250 m to the west of Keeping this factor in mind a high level Delhi. This means an uplift of about 250 canal is proposed from Moyar river and runs m by pumping to reach the via Hassan, Chikmagalur, Arsekere to join Gandhisagar reservoir level. This Vanivilas Sagar constructed on Vedavati would require huge amount of power river From Vanivilas Sagar it again follows for uplifting. a route via Tungabhadra dam at Hospet, 6. The loss of this power should not only Kushtagi to join Krishna in the Narayanpur be compensated elsewhere within the reservoir and is aligned on the right bank of system but efforts to generate Krishna to finally join the Pandurna Medak, additional power south of the north of Hyderabad, Tandur, Gulbarga Vindhyans should be planned as the branch canal (D2) near Raichur (Fig-1). water thus released could be transferred to the desired purpose. A Garland canal linking various parts Conclusions of southern U.P., Bihar. , Orissa. M.P. Maharastra etc as per After studying the various proposals as different alternatives discussed above described above it is observed that; may also be considered so that the 1. Inter -Basinal transfer of Brahmputra best possible proposal could be to Ganga would be restricted to ground adopted. An additional Link from El. 100m to 150m, since International Ootacmund to Raichur is also boundaries with Bhutan, Nepal and proposed to augment supply of the Bangladesh may become major southern link canal from Pandurna to constraints in timely execution of the Dundigal. scheme. 8. Creation of additional reservoirs, power 2. Tranfer of Brahmputra to Ganga may stations, and possibilities of irrigation be possible either at Munger or Patna of the central and southern sectors may but this would submerge habitations on be provided besides some amount of the banks of Ganga. navigational facilities could also be 3. Tranfer of Ganga water to the southern looked into. 9. The Northern states that would be References providing the excess water should be compensated from the beneficiary Anon.(1971): Report of Irrigation states. Commission Vol. IV. Irrigation Atlas of India, First Ed., Ministry of Education & Youth Services, Govt of India, plates 18 Acknowledgements to 31 Anon.(2000): Oxford School Atlas, Oxford The author is thankful to Dr. K.N. Mathur, University Press, Ed. XIII Director General, Geological Survey of India Rao, Dr. K.L.(1975): India's Water Wealth : and Shri.U.K.Bassi, Dy.Dlrector General, Its Assessment. Uses and Projection. GSI, N.R for kindly permitting him to submit Orient Longman Limited, pp. 166 -169 the paper for publication and onward Srivastva, G.S., Misra, Dr. P.S., Sharda, Dr. transmission to the ISEG for including in the Y.P. (2002): An approach paper on forthcoming Workshop on, ‘Interlinking of contribution of Geological Survey of River Basins, to be held on the 22'"‘ India for Inter Basin transfer of water December 2004. He also expresses his resource of the country. Unpub. GSI sincere thanks to and Shri. S.K.Gupta, Report Director, Publication for scrutiny of the paper and to his colleagues for their advice and moral support.