Reuters Foundation

Oxford University Paper

India's Programme on Interlinking Rivers
© Rainer Hoerig, Oxford, U.K. July 2005

 

India is heading for a major water crisis. Devastating floods and droughts, dangerous pollution levels in most rivers and lakes, controversial dam projects and over-exploitation of ground water resources are its main indicators. One of the responses by the government is a programme to interlink major rivers with the help of large reservoirs and broad canals in order to enable a transfer of water from „surplus“ to „deficient“ regions. Rainer Hoerig’s paper explains the main features of this project. The author looks at existing river diversion projects in India and analyses their performance. The paper sums up scientific evidence and experience with river diversions in other countries around the globe. Based on this information an attempt is made to assess social and environmental consequences of the programme of interlinking India’s rivers.

With the help of a scholarship from Reuters Foundation the author spent three months of 2005 to study at Oxford University. The summary of his research paper is presented here. more...

 

See also:

Troubled Water - India is heading for a water crisis
The New Internationalist, April 2006

Narmada: India's Soul in Danger
Sanctuary Asia, April 2000
© Sanctuary Asia, Mumbai, India 2000

Water Harvesting against Droughts
Deutsche Welle Radio, 31. July 2001
© Deutsche Welle, Cologne, Germany 2001

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