HK

HASSAN KHANAIR 95· 2025

Question Q.14AnalyzeGS2GS2

The interlinking of rivers offers several benefits, but also raises significant socio-economic and environmental concerns. Analyze.

Open scan (p.32)
Answer

Introduction

Recent naming of Ken-Betwa Link Project MOU between MP and UP brought the topic of interlinking of rivers back into public discourse.

22 words

Main Body

Recent naming of Ken-Betwa Link Project MOU between MP and UP brought the topic of interlinking of rivers back into public discourse.

Interlinking of rivers is about linking the 'surplus' rivers with 'deficit' rivers for optimal utilization of water.

Benefits of Interlinking of rivers:

1Optimum utilization of water that goes into Ocean from another river basin
2Address flood in surplus rivers especially during monsoon season for Kosi in Bihar
3Drought-resistance in water-deficit region → Bundelkhand region

Concerns with Inter-linking of rivers:

Social-Economic:

1Displacement of communities – due to reservoir creation
2High capital cost – make large scale projects unviable
3Long gestation period – with issues of land acquisition, capital arrangement
4Drinking water – for remote area ensuring quality of life
5Navigation – river navigation can be ensured throughout the year
6Development – through planned urbanization, industrialization in water deficit regions → Bundelkhand development with Ken-Betwa project

Concerns with Inter-linking of rivers:

Ecological Concerns:

1Affect natural flows – impacting ecology downstream of river system
2Submergence – of biodiversity region → Panna Tiger reserve due to Ken-Betwa project
3Confliction of 'mithan' and 'deficit' over – in challenged in view of Climate change induced scarcity
4Shifting of river – would affect visibility of project
5Physical-chemical composition – of ocean water to be affected with less fresh water, forward agriculture

Ecological Concerns (continued):

1Affect natural flows – impacting ecology downstream of river system
2Submergence – of biodiversity region → Panna Tiger reserve due to Ken-Betwa project
3Confliction of 'mithan' and 'deficit' over – in challenged in view of Climate change induced scarcity
4Shifting of river – would affect visibility of project
5Physical-chemical composition – of ocean water to be affected with less fresh water, forward agriculture

Diagram shows: (1) Demand regulation with inflow, (2) Recycled waste economy, (3) Water harvesting technique, (4) Decentralized inter-linking of system instead of large scale infrastructure

326 words8 paragraphs

Diagram

Diagram with arrows showing (1) Demand regulation with inflow, (2) Recycled waste economy, (3) Water harvesting technique, (4) Decentralized inter-linking of system instead of large scale infrastructure

Examiner score
1.1/10

Open original scan

Page 32

Topper

HASSAN KHAN

AIR 952025

Subject & Paper

GS2GS2

Topic

Government Policies and Interventions - Design, Implementation and Issues

Government Schemes and Policies

River Interlinking Project

Writing Stats

348

Total words

8

Paragraphs

academic

Tone