Question.
What are the socioeconomic advantages of the interlinking of rivers in India?
(Chapter-3 Drainage System, Class 11 NCERT geography "India Physical Environment")
Answer.
India's rivers carry a huge amount of water every year and release most of it into the ocean. Water in rivers is unequally distributed both in time and space, due to this many rivers of India remain mostly dry, while some rivers flow more water than necessary. Therefore interlinking of rivers in India can solve many socioeconomic problems.
Following are some of the socio-economic benefits of interlinking rivers in India-
The significant socioeconomic benefits of interlinking rivers in India include solving the twin problems of floods and droughts, reducing farmer stress, ensuring food security, developing agriculture and allied activities, integrating people, and inland water transport. Includes benefits such as network development.
Due to the uncertainty of monsoon rainfall, India faces floods and droughts at the same time. Many farmers suffer heavy losses due to floods and droughts. Interlinking rivers can solve both India's flood and drought problems. Interlinking rivers will reduce the negative impact of floods in the northern plains and help reduce water scarcity in peninsular India. The availability of sufficient water in dry regions like the Vidarbha and Saurashtra region of central India will increase economic activity in this region.
The interlinking of rivers will connect people from all over India. The interdependence of the region would integrate the peoples of North India, Central India, and Southern India.
As we know that water transport is a cheap mode of transport and it is environment friendly as less fuel is required as compared to the road to carry the same material and goods over long distances. Interlinking of rivers will provide vast inland water transport which will help India in reducing fossil fuel imports as well as in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The following are some of the proposed and developed projects under the interlinking of rivers;
- Periyar Diversion Scheme
- Indira Gandhi Canal Project
- Kurnool-Kadapa Canal
- Beas-Sutlej Link Canal
- Ganga-Cauvery Link Canal
However, the interlinking of rivers in India has many challenges, some of which are listed below;
- River water pollution.
- The uneven seasonal flow of water within the Himalayan region.
- The melting glaciers in the Himalayas due to climate change will affect the future water availability in the Himalayan river.
- The problem of sedimentation in river water.
- River water dispute between states.
- Shrinkage of channel width due to the expansion of human settlements towards the channel.
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