ETV Bharat / bharat

Interlinking of Rivers and its Challenges

Interacting with ETV Bharat, General Secretary of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) Ashwin B Pandya opined that interlinking of rivers was the 'need of the hour'. On the other hand, Environmentalist Pankaj Kumar warns that there would be adverse effects, if we will try to change nature's order.

Interlinking of Rivers and its Challenges

Interlinking of Rivers and its Challenges

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Published : Aug 21, 2019, 5:06 PM IST

New Delhi: The issue of 'interlinking of rivers' has always been viewed with a pinch of salt, with proponents arguing on its respective merits and demerits.

While some opine that the project (interlinking of rivers), can solve problems a wide range of issues, including flood and drought; others believe that the entire exercise would backfire as it would be against the natural order.

Interlinking of Rivers and its Challenges

Interacting with ETV Bharat, General Secretary of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) Ashwin B Pandya opined that interlinking of rivers was the 'need of the hour'. He further asserted that, under this project, a network of canals can be created by interconnecting the rivers and can be used to divert the water from surplus to deficit ones. "The issue has gained prominence in recent times due to several factors, with the major one being climate change. The instances of unabated rainfall and drought-like conditions have been prevalent across the country," he added. Citing an example of America and China, Pandya said that the interlinking of rivers was carried out successfully and the people have been reaping benefits from it. "By connecting rivers, one can solve the water crisis in our country, alongside preventing the migration of people (for employment) in waterless parts of the country," he maintained. Pandya also referred to Bhakra Nangal Dam, Sardar Sarovar Dam and Mullaperiyar Dam, reiterating that working on connecting the rivers would be an important step. After the formation of a separate 'Jal Shakti' ministry in the Modi government 2.0, the onus is now on the steps to be taken to implement the project. On the other hand, Environmentalist Pankaj Kumar warns that there would be adverse effects if we will try to change nature's order. "Rivers have their natural course and connecting them would lead to large scale deforestation and migration of people to different places. Also, when it comes to connecting two rivers, it is important to see whether the water of both rivers is clean or not," he remarked. Recollecting an example, Kumar said that the 'Ken-Betwa River Linking Project' was not completed and has run into several hurdles. "Though Former Union Minister Uma Bharti expended her time and energy, the project remained incomplete, during her tenure," he added. According to Pankaj, the interlinking of rivers cannot be done due to several scientific reasons and the practicality of the situation. "There will be negative outcomes if this scheme is implemented," he claimed.

Also, read: Former ISRO scientist happy over the progress of Chandrayaan-2

New Delhi: The issue of 'interlinking of rivers' has always been viewed with a pinch of salt, with proponents arguing on its respective merits and demerits.

While some opine that the project (interlinking of rivers), can solve problems a wide range of issues, including flood and drought; others believe that the entire exercise would backfire as it would be against the natural order.

Interlinking of Rivers and its Challenges

Interacting with ETV Bharat, General Secretary of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) Ashwin B Pandya opined that interlinking of rivers was the 'need of the hour'. He further asserted that, under this project, a network of canals can be created by interconnecting the rivers and can be used to divert the water from surplus to deficit ones. "The issue has gained prominence in recent times due to several factors, with the major one being climate change. The instances of unabated rainfall and drought-like conditions have been prevalent across the country," he added. Citing an example of America and China, Pandya said that the interlinking of rivers was carried out successfully and the people have been reaping benefits from it. "By connecting rivers, one can solve the water crisis in our country, alongside preventing the migration of people (for employment) in waterless parts of the country," he maintained. Pandya also referred to Bhakra Nangal Dam, Sardar Sarovar Dam and Mullaperiyar Dam, reiterating that working on connecting the rivers would be an important step. After the formation of a separate 'Jal Shakti' ministry in the Modi government 2.0, the onus is now on the steps to be taken to implement the project. On the other hand, Environmentalist Pankaj Kumar warns that there would be adverse effects if we will try to change nature's order. "Rivers have their natural course and connecting them would lead to large scale deforestation and migration of people to different places. Also, when it comes to connecting two rivers, it is important to see whether the water of both rivers is clean or not," he remarked. Recollecting an example, Kumar said that the 'Ken-Betwa River Linking Project' was not completed and has run into several hurdles. "Though Former Union Minister Uma Bharti expended her time and energy, the project remained incomplete, during her tenure," he added. According to Pankaj, the interlinking of rivers cannot be done due to several scientific reasons and the practicality of the situation. "There will be negative outcomes if this scheme is implemented," he claimed.

Also, read: Former ISRO scientist happy over the progress of Chandrayaan-2

Intro:नदियों से नदियों को जोड़ने की बात जब भारत के पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी ने की तब से आज तक इस मुद्दे पर कुछ काम हुए भी हैं लेकिन देश की जरूरत के हिसाब से कोई बड़ी योजना शुरू नहीं हो सकी है । वर्तमान में केन-बेतवा रिवर लिंकिंग प्रोजेक्ट की बात सबसे ज्यादा चर्चाओं में रहती है लेकिन विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि ये प्रोजेक्ट भी फिलहाल पूरा नहीं हो सका है ।
हालांकि हमारे पास भाखरा , सरदार सरोवर और मुला मेरा जैसी परियोजनाओं के भी उदाहरण हैं जिनका फायदा बड़ी आबादी को मिल रहा है ।
मोदी सरकार 2.0 में जल संसाधन के लिये अलग से 'जल शक्ति' मंत्रालय बनने के बाद अब एक बार फिर इस बात की चर्चा जोर पकड़ रही है कि नदी को नदी से जोड़ने की बात जो अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी ने की थी उसे साकार करने की दिशा में मोदी सरकार कोई बड़ा कदम उठा सकती है ।
हालांकि सरकार की ओर से अभी तक रिवर लिंकिंग के लिये किसी बड़ी परियोजना को शुरू करने की आधिकारिक जानकारी सामने नहीं आई है लेकिन उम्मीद जरूर जताई जा रही है ।
ईटीवी भारत ने इस विषय पर दो अलग अलग पक्षों से नदियों को आपस में जोड़ने की योजना और उससे संबंधित चुनौतियों पर राय ली ।
इंटरनेशनल कमीशन ऑन इरीगेशन एंड ड्रेनेज (ICID) के महासचिव (सेक्रेटरी जेनरल) अश्विन बी पंड्या ने इसे आज के समय की जरूरत बताया ।
ईटीवी से विशेष बातचीत में अश्विन बी. पांड्या ने कहा कि जलवायु परिवर्तन और कई अन्य कारणों से देश में कहीं अधिक पानी तो कहीं सूखे जैसे हालात उत्पन्न होने लगे हैं । ऐसे में नदियों को जोड़ना आज की मांग है । चीन और अमरीका जैसे देशों ने ये काम पहले ही कर लिया और आज उन्हें इसका फायदा मिल रहा है । नदियों को आपस में जोड़ने से न केवल बाढ़ की समस्या से निजात पाया जा सकता है बल्कि सूखे की समस्या से भी निपट सकते हैं । साथ ही जल विहीन क्षेत्र में जब पानी पहुंचता है तो रोजगार के अवसर भी इन परियोजनाओं से पैदा होते हैं और पलायन रोकने में भी मदद मिलती है ।
अश्विन पांड्या ने भाखड़ा, सरदार सरोवर और मुलामेरा के उदाहरण रखे और कहा कि नदियों को जोड़ने के लिये काम करना एक जरूरी कदम होगा ।

Body:वहीं दूसरी तरफ पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञ/प्रेमी इसे व्यवहारिक नहीं मानते ।
ईटीवी भारत से बातचीत में Environmentalist पंकज कुमार ने बताया कि प्रकृति के द्वारा बनाई गई व्यवस्था को छेड़ने के कई विपरीत प्रभाव होंगे । नदियों की अपनी जीवनशैली है और उन्हें जोड़ने के लिये बड़े स्तर पर जंगल, खेत और आबादी को हटाना पड़ेगा । साथ ही जब दो नदी को आपस में जोड़ने की बात होती है तो ये देखना भी जरूरी है कि दोनों नदी का पानी सामान्य रूप से साफ है या नहीं ।
पंकज कुमार ने केन-बेतवा रिवर लिंकिंग का उदाहरण देते हुए कहा कि अभी तक ये योजना पूरी नहीं हो सकी है और उसमें कई अड़चने हैं । पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री उमा भारती ने अपने कार्यकाल के दौरान भी बहुत प्रयास किये लेकिन बावजूद इसके ये पूरा नहीं हो सका । बतौर पंकज, नदियों को जोड़ने की बात को व्यवहारिक न बताने के पीछे कई वैज्ञानिक कारण भी हैं । जब दो अलग प्रकृति की नदियों को आपस मे जोड़ने का काम किया जाएगा तो इसके कई दुष्प्रभाव सामने आएंगे ।

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