A Jalshakti (Water Resources) Ministry advertisement assures us that 19 crore houses will get drinking water from a tap by 2024. But the efforts on ground seem sluggish, and it won’t be surprising if it takes another 30 to 35 years i. e. by 2060 we will be able to provide tap water to all our people. Realistically with some political will power, we can achieve this goal by 2047 when the centenary of our Independence will be celebrated. For that purpose Ganga, Godavari and Kaveri rivers are to be linked.
In 1980 a National Perspective Plan was prepared for linking of GGK rivers by the Ministry of Irrigation. Dr K L Rao, then Irrigation Minister, consulted all the concerned CMs about this ambitious project. An UNDP i.e. United Nations Development Programme team visited India and prepared a feasibility report. The UNDP was ready to sponsor the GGK linking. But Indira Gandhi, then PM was assassinated and nothing is heard about this grand initiative since.
Now the Jalshakti Ministry should come forward to revive the GGK linking plan. The NITI Ayog can prepare an execution coordination programme in consultation with all the concerned States and Union Territories. This should be done on a war footing. The Consultative Committee attached to the Jalshakti Ministry can act as a pressure group to implement this giant multidimensional project.
If we can realise this dream, we will be able to solve the following problems:
1. Recurring floods
2. Drinking water shortage
3. Naval transport
4. Irrigation
5. Hydroelectricity
6. Low Tourism
The Ganga Godavari Kaveri (GGK) Linking Plan Can Solve Major Water Woes In India
Latest from India
Champaran’s Liquid Gold: Goat Milk Soap Industry Booms with ₹9 Lakh Monthly Turnover
We use milk mainly to drink and it is used to make tea/coffee. But it can also be used to make eco-friendly soap. Mahatma Gandhi vouched for goat milk. Now villagers in
How Private Biospheres in India Are Combating Climate Crisis with Afforestation
In a climate-crisis-ridden country like India, public initiative is not enough to reference this land. So private and collective biospheres are coming up. It is a heartening sign to see afforestation as
India’s Population Dilemma: Can it Balance Growth with Sustainability in 2024?
India is the largest country in terms of population, with an estimated population of more than 1420 million. Bharat, that is India, has people equivalent to 17.76% of the total population of
Bee Prepared: Manghar’s Transformation into India’s First Honey Village Aims to Sweeten the Pot with ₹50 Lakh Investment
Nature has got many sweet things. Sugarcane is one of the greatest sources of our sweeteners in our daily life. Among the creatures that supply us honey is honeybee. This humble creature
Ratnagiri’s 12,000-Year-Old Geoglyphs Clash with Industrial Oil Refinery Ambitions of India
The Bombay High Court issued a notice to both the Center and the State on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) aimed at protecting ancient rock art petroglyphs and geoglyphs in the Konkan
ISRO’s Pushpak RLV Demonstrates Autonomous Landing, Shakes Up Space Race
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted a landing test of its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named “Pushpak” on the morning of 22 March 2024. The landing took place in Challakere,
Genome India’s Landmark Achievement: 10,000 Sequences Unlock Potential for Precision Medicine”
The Bio-technology Department of the Government of India announced the completion of sequencing of 10,000 Indian genomes. This initiative is part of the Genome India Project, which aims to create a ‘reference’
Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike Ignites A Demand for Ladakh’s 6th Schedule Rights and Tribal Recognition
Sonam Wangchuk, the Ramon Magsaysay award winner from Ladakh, has begun a protest-fast for the rights of Ladakhis. To promote total economic development and decision-making, the Ladakhis have been calling for the
UPI’s Dominance: Capturing 80% of India’s Digital Payments in 2023
UPI, or Unified Payments Interface, is India’s mobile-based fast payment system created by the National Payments Corporation of India in 2016. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the share of
Beyond Earnings: Why a Rs 1 Million Salary Isn’t Enough for Financial Freedom for Women
A study conducted by DBS Bank& Crisil reveals that an annual income of Rs 1 million may place you within the top 15% of Indians in terms of earnings, but if you
Can Narain’s Tribute to D’Monte Ignite an Environmental Awakening? Insights from Mumbai’s Lecture
When environmental protection and ecological balance were not as widely discussed, Darryl D’Monte championed nature conservation through his editorial work at newspapers like the Times of India and Indian Express. In his
Discover Shakambhari Pournima 2024: India’s Night of Divine Nourishment
Shakambhari Pournima is a Hindu festival, primarily observed in India in veneration of the Goddess Shakambhari. It is observed in the month of Pousha, which usually corresponds with January. This year, Shakambhari
Noida to Delhi Farmer’s March Puts Pressure on Modi Government for Fair Crop Prices as Agricultural Unrest Hits New Peak
Farming has become a losing enterprise. That is why farmers are protesting all over the world. India is not an exception. The farmers’ groups in Noida and Greater Noida have been in
Mangrove Massacre at Chanakya Lake in Navi Mumbai: Citizens’ Outcry Leads to FIR Against Land Clearance
The CIDCO is the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra. It is an Indian city planning agency. It is the richest government authority in India. It is formed and controlled by
Vulture Crisis in Mumbai: How Ancient Parsi Rituals Face Modern Challenges
The disposal of dead human bodies is carried out in many ways, generally depending on one’s religion or faith. A majority of Hindus cremate their dead bodies. A few Hindus belonging to
