HUBLI: The National River Network which is currently being worked out as per the directives of the apex court, to evolve a permanent solution to the water crisis by linking of rivers, is technically and economically viable though it may have some environmental consequences, feels S. Kalyanaraman, director of Discovery of Saraswathi River Project.

Kalyanaraman, who spearheads the Sarasvati Nadi Shodh Prakalp — movement for resurrection of river Saraswathi — and a former senior executive of Asian Development Bank, however, feels it is necessary to tap the Brahmaputra to a great extent as it was necessary to rejuvenate the Ganga by linking the former, to make the project a success. He told reporters that India could add another 85 million hectares to irrigated land to the existing 90 million hectares and bring about a green revolution as the linking of rivers would not only provide abundant water but also enrich the soil.

However, he accepted the criticism by environmentalists who claim that linking of rivers would bring a change in crop pattern, among other consequences.

He pooh-poohed their warning of a major environmental disaster by citing examples of the successful 3,000-km river link to feed California from Alaska in the US and the Chinese project to connect its Himalayan rivers to the north of that country.

According to Kalyanaraman, there are many reasons to link the rivers as India does not have a uniform rain pattern, though it is assured of monsoon rains due to the tropical region. While Rajasthan records only 11 mm, Jammu and Kashmir gets 600 mm while Cherrapunji gets 22,000 mm.

In 1950, India’s foodgrain production was 65 million tonnes to feed 32 crore people, but by 2004, grain production shot up to 200 million tonnes. Big dams helped, and there was no repeat of the Bengal famine of the 1960s when millions died. But the specialist has some riders for the project: to ensure that environmental integrity is sustained by afforestation measures and enrichment of soil health, that problems caused by resettlement of people are anticipated and effective alternative settlements are provided. He also feels the project should not fall into the hands of private players. "The works should not go into the hands of ‘land sharks’ or ‘sea dogs’. They should be managed at the local level to ensure transparency."

He has also advocated equitable distribution of the 9 crore acres of additional wetlands generated by the project. The land should be put to beneficial use to increase agricultural production and provide employment to unemployed youth. Panchayat Raj institutions should manage local canal networks, local watersheds and maintenance of groundwater tables, he felt.

Kalyanaraman felt the cost was not exorbitant, as the project would result in enormous economic benefits, including saving Rs 3,000 crore in foreign exchange every year, as linking would throw open waterways.