Inter-linking of rivers in India is a bad idea

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16916381.post-91193714955021323912007-05-26T00:40:00.000-07:002007-05-26T02:29:47.329-07:00Inter-linking of rivers in India is a bad ideaI think inter-linking of rivers in India is a bad idea. Whenever any friend of mine sounds impressed with this grandiose idea, I have felt frustrated and disturbed. We tend to overlook smaller more effective solutions and go for more romantic and glamorous 'solutions'. So I had been hunting around to gather information on this and make a case of it to people who want to understand what the pros and cons of this effort are. Following are a few links which spell out the danger of going ahead with this plan which does not have enough scientific evidence or prior experience to back it. <a href="http://www.saciwaters.org/interlinking.htm"> The Interlinking of Indian Rivers</a> <a href="http://www.saciwaters.org/interlinking.htm">Some Questions on the Scientific, Economic and Environmental Dimensions of the Proposal </a> <a href="http://www.saciwaters.org/interlinking.htm">Paper presented at Seminar on Interlinking Indian Rivers: Bane or Boon? at IISWBM, Kolkata 17 June 2002</a>The conclusion of the above goes thus: "At the end of the above review and analysis made on the basis of whatever open information is available on the project for interlinking the rivers in India, there appears a great inconsistency in the declared claims of the project, and their feasibility" <a href="http://www.countercurrents.org/en-ghosh150503.htm">This link, by Shailendra Nath Ghosh</a>, talks about what is wrong with the concept, and what questions need to be answered, to make a proper assessment of this project More <a href="http://www.indiatogether.org/environment/interlink.htm">articles </a>and <a href="http://www.indiatogether.org/opinions/guest/interlink.htm">opinions</a>. Quite insightful. <a href="http://www.sdnpbd.org/river_basin/differntviews/different_views.htm">Bangladesh's views on India's inter-linking of rivers</a> (They too oppose this) <a href="http://www.sdnpbd.org/river_basin/differntviews/documents/spirited_response_to_river_link_supporters.pdf">Narmada Bachao Aandolan's views in "Dams, Rivers and People"</a>: This talks about rehabilitation failures and need for local management and conservation than an imposed, top down solution. They may appear biased because of their image in the press but they are people who have seen and fought unselfishly for rehabilitation of displaced people. "The proposal is even more dangerous as attempting to link up veins of different persons without trying to find out the blood groups of the individuals. He said consequences will be disastrous." from <a href="http://www.sdnpbd.org/river_basin/differntviews/documents/national_citizens_meeting_delhi_rejects_river_link_proposals_as_ill_conceived.pdf">National Citizens’ Meeting in Delhi concludes: River Link Proposals ill conceived, not in national Interest</a> More: <a href="http://nwda.gov.in/indexmain.asp?linkid=97&langid=1">ILR in Supreme Court</a> <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/18/stories/2005101805081300.htm"> Bahuguna opposes interlinking of rivers</a> I have not included any links which talk about the environmental aspects of this inter-linking. While the impact will be enormously destructive, talking about it seems to turn off people because they cannot see how economic growth and environmental conservation can co-exist. (May these lesser mortals exit soon) So next time you hear of the inter-linking of rivers , doubt it, question it and take the side of what then comes out as true and right.Narayan Ramanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094480866664974663noreply@blogger.com