The Government of India has formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR) for transferring water from surplus basins to deficit basins/areas of the country. National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has been entrusted with the work of Interlinking of Rivers under theNational Perspective Plan. 30 nter-Linking of Rivers projects have been identified under the National Perspective Plan with two components, viz; Himalayan Component (14 projects) and Peninsular Component (16 projects). Detailed Projects Reports (DPRs) of 11 link projects, Feasibility Reports (FRs) of 26 link projects and Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of 30 link projects have been completed.

This information was provided by the Minister of state for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. He told that the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first link of National Perspective Plan that is under implementation. The Govt. of India has approved the implementation of Ken-Betwa Link Project in December, 2021 with an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605 crore (year 2020-21 price level) with central support of Rs. 39,317 crore through a Special Purpose Vehicle viz. Ken Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA). Work for the main component of the project i.e. Daudhan dam has been awarded. A Project Management Consultant has been hired for assisting Ken Betwa Link Project Authority for implementation of project.

The link projects under the National Perspective Plan are judiciously planned and designed to, wherever possible, transfer water from surplus basins to the deficit/water short basins and thus, mitigating the effects of floods and droughts to some extent. The flood water from flood prone/water surplus river basins would be diverted to water deficit regions and would also recharge ground water table, tanks and canals in the command areas.

Further, the Flood management and anti-erosion schemes are planned and executed by the respective State Governments based on their priorities. To support these efforts, the Union Government provides both technical guidance and promotional financial assistance for managing floods in critical areas.

In order to strengthen structural flood management measures, the Union Government implemented the Flood Management Programme (FMP) during the XI and XII Five Year Plans, offering central assistance to States for works related to flood control, anti-erosion, drainage improvement, and protection against sea erosion. This initiative was subsequently continued as a component of the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) during the period 2017–18 to 2020–21, and was further extended up to 2026 with a limited financial outlay.

Under the Flood Management Programme component of Flood Management and Border Areas Programme a total of 48 flood management projects-estimated at Rs1866.50 crore-have been included for implementation, out of which central assistance amounting to Rs 924.40 crore has been released to the Government of Bihar.

Further, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has advised all the States to adopt ans enforce flood plain zoning as a non-structural measure to mitigate damage caused by floods.