The much-hyped river Mahanadi-Godavari (MG) link move is in limbo as the Centre has decided not to undertake these two rivers’ connection in isolation.
The MG link issue came up at a recently-held National Water Development Agency (NWDA) meeting, where Union Water Resources Secretary Amarjit Singh revealed, “MG link will not be taken up in isolation; rather water from Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga (MSTG) link will be made available in Mahanadi basin first including Rusikulya Basin.”
As the Mahanadi has little surplus water, Odisha Water Resources Special Secretary Vishal Gagan opposed the move of the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) for an MG link.
Gagan pointed out that system simulation studies of MG link done by the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) do not present a correct picture about the Mahanadi. So, he suggested modifications in the NIH’s report.
The NIH report has reportedly presented surplus water in the Mahanadi, which was contested by the Government of Odisha. Accordingly, officials admit that a modified report would be submitted at the next meeting of the Special Committee of the NWDA.
Meanwhile, a detailed analysis of the NIH report has been made by the State’s Department of Water Resources (DoWR) and observations have been sent to the MoWR.
However, with Amarjit Singh’s approach about an MG link has made it clear that unless water flows from an MSTG link to the Mahanadi and Rusikulya basins, MG link would not be undertaken.
But an MSTG link is not taking off due to international issues and opposition of the West Bengal Government. Two dams, both Manas and Sankosh, are lying in Bhutan. A bilateral agreement between India and Bhutan is needed for the Manas Dam which is yet to be signed with Bhutan. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has to be roped in to address the international issues.
Secondly, sources said that the West Bengal Government is opposing the river link scheme as it maintains that there is hardly any surplus water in river Teesta. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has time and again questioned availability of water in Teesta.
The proposed MSTG link envisages transfer of 43 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water of which 14 BCM would reach the Mahanadi after en route utilisation. This would be further transferred to southern India for utilisation in the Krishna, Cauvery and Pennar basins and beyond.
Southern States, which are facing water shortage, are eager for an MG link though due to the aforesaid problems MG connectivity is facing uncertainty, say officials.
The Government of Telangana maintains that the Mahanadi has surplus water and abundant water from the river is flowing into sea unutilised, which can be made available to the needy areas.
However, the Odisha Government has been pointing out that due to utilisation of more and more water by the Chhattisgarh Government, the Mahanadi has turned out to be water-deficient.
And the Odisha Government has approached the Supreme Court over the move of the Chhattisgarh Government to allegedly dry up the Mahanadi.