Global river-linking projects have encountered significant issues, including salinity, waterlogging, ecological disruption, pollutant transfer, reduced downstream flows, and inaccurate water availability assessments. The Ken and Betwa rivers possess distinct climates, geology, channel forms, and hydrology, raising questions about their response to sustained water transfer.
Past projects worldwide, such as China’s South-to-North Water Transfer Project and the California State Water Project, have experienced ecological loss, water quality deterioration, and ecosystem degradation. A recurring problem is the misclassification of water-surplus and water-deficient basins, as natural systems require water for their own health.
The Ken and Betwa rivers, despite sharing some geological features, differ in climate, rainfall patterns, and river form. Transferring water could exacerbate dry-season stress in the Ken and alter the Betwa’s channel behaviour and morphology. Ecological concerns include potential habitat destruction, threats to wildlife in protected areas, and altered fish diversity.
These projects can also impact downstream sediment dynamics, potentially affecting river hydrology and water availability. In the Betwa basin, increased discharge could raise flood susceptibility. The Ken-Betwa project, connecting two dryland rivers with limited capacity to adjust to sudden change, demands a thorough re-evaluation of its ecological and hydrological impacts.
Source: Down To Earth