River linking is no smooth-sailing exercise

The river system is a major source of irrigation, provides potable water and cheap transportation, helps in electricity generation, and is a source of livelihood for the people. To ensure optimal utilisation of river water, one of the options is to divert water of surplus river basins to the deficit ones. There are several challenges in implementation of inter-basin water transfer projects. It is essential that various issues, macro as well as project-specific, are addressed in a time-bound manner, by constituting a National Water Mission on river linking, if necessary.