UPSC Mains 2020 · GS I · Q14 · 15 marks · 250 words

The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multi-dimensional inter-related problems of droughts, floods and interrupted navigation. Critically examine.

हिन्दी में

नदियों को आपस में जोड़ना सूखा, बाढ़ और बाधित जल-परिवहन जैसी बहु-आयामी अन्तर्सम्बन्धित समस्याओं का व्यवहार्य समाधान दे सकता है । आलोचनात्मक परीक्षण कीजिए ।

Water Floods

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “The interlinking of rivers offers several benefits, but also raises significant socio-economic and environmental concerns. Analyze.”

Pakshal SecretryAIR 8 · CSE 2025 · 194 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Recently (Dec 2024), Maharashtra approved project to interlink Wainganga and Nalganga with estimated cost of Rs 87,000 crore.

Body

Diagram

- National perspective plan - Interlinking of 30 Rivers - 16 Himalayan - 14 Peninsular - Formation of monitoring committee

Benefits (1) Provide water to water scare region eg Bundelkhand through Ken - Betwa → Benefit 6 mn people (2) Helps in disaster management (2) Transfer of water from ken to Betwa reduces flooding (3) Hydroelectric potential - estimated at 36,000 MW by NRLP. (4) Agriculture Benefit → Increases irrigated area → canal = cheap source of irrigation (5) Helps in water connectivity and development of waterways. (6) Storage capacity ensures less flow to Ocean and less wastage

Social Concern (1) Displacement of 1 lakh people (80% Tribal) due to Ken - Betwa project (2) Disproportionate impact on vulnerable section (3) Rural areas more affected while urban are insulated

Economic Concern (4) High cost - As per NRLP, 30 rivers would cost Rs 5.6 lakh crore. (5) unviability of energy → due to high cost of extraction

Environmental Concern (6) faulting & Blasting → seismic risk (7) Submergence of critical habitat eg Panna Tiger Reserve (8) Wildlife habitat fragmentation eg Tigers.

Thus, proper EIA and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) needs to be done to ensure feasibility.

3 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper I, Q14. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.