[Answered] Evaluate the desirability of inter-basin transfer of water for reducing regional imbalance in the availability of water.

• Introduction: Provide a context of inter-basin transfer of water
• Body: Address the benefits and challenges due to inter-basin transfer of water
• Conclusion: Give a conclusion with a way forward

Scientific management of water is increasingly recognized as being vital to India’s growth and ecosystem sustainability. Inter-basin transfer of water includes linking rivers by a network of reservoirs and canals that will allow for their water capacities to be shared and redistributed.

India’s Interlinking of Rivers programme is also aimed at the linking different surplus rivers of the country with deficient rivers.

Desirability of inter-basin transfer of water:

• Interlinking of rivers reduce regional imbalance through the transfer of surplus water to deficit regions. For instance, a recent study indicates 110 water transfer mega projects being executed across the world
• Inter-basin transfer of water provides a solution to the rain-fed irrigation problems of Indian agriculture. For example: Ken Betwa River link project helps to irrigate the drought prone Bundelkhand region.
• It helps in creating clean fuel energy thus fueling the development processes.
• It further helps commercially because of the betterment of the inland waterways transport system.

Challenges

• The basic idea behind IBT is to export water from the surplus basin to a deficit basin. However, the status of basin as surplus may change if factors of present and future land use, especially cropping patterns, population growth, urbanisation, etc. are considered.
• Also decrease in rainfall may reduce the availability of water in surplus areas.
• Any additional capacity for irrigation must be created only when the present capacity is utilized properly. The average water use efficiency of irrigation projects in India is only 38% against 50%-60% in the case of developed countries.
• It adversely affects land, forests, biodiversity, rivers. For instance, Ken Betwa project was stuck for the approval from National Green Tribunal (NGT) as it passed through critical tiger habitat of panna tiger reserve.
• Inter-basin transfer of water involves federal issues due to dissent on the part of the state governments regarding water sharing. For example, the ongoing disputes on rivers like Cauvery, Mahadayi.

Way forward

Inter-basin transfer of water program must be updated keeping in mind the present challenges like climate change and increasing water stress. Alternative methods like traditional water harvesting technologies, traditional water storage systems must be widely used. Also, strengthening of grey water management infrastructure may save India’s precious fresh water.