Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming a reality in the country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its possible impact on the environment. (10 Marks)

River linking proposes transferring water between basins through reservoirs, canals or regulated flows to address spatial and seasonal differences in water availability.

Potential advantages

• Supplement irrigation and drinking-water supply in relatively water-scarce regions.
• Moderate floods and drought impacts, support navigation and hydropower in selected corridors.
• Increase drought resilience if designed around basin-level demand management.

Environmental concerns

• Altered sediment, fish migration, floodplain ecology and environmental flows.
• Submergence, forest loss, displacement and inter-state water disputes.
• Evaporation losses, invasive species and unpredictable climate-change hydrology.

Project-by-project environmental assessment, cumulative basin studies, ecological flows, rehabilitation and demand-side conservation must precede construction.

Keywords: water management; interlinking of rivers; river ecology.