National Water Development Agency, Ministry of Water Resource River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India organized a National Seminar on Problems and Prospect of Interlinking of Rivers in the country (PPILRC) at Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon on 22nd November, 2014. Mr. Amit Kumar Sharma, Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering, Dronacharya Group of Institutions, Greater Noida participated in this seminar as a delegate.

The seminar started at 10.30 AM with welcoming of all guests and participants by Dr. B.M.K. Prasad, Director, Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon.

Mr. H.N Dixit, Chief Guest, in his keynote address shared his knowledge about National Water DevelopmentAgency Plan July 1982 and various water development schemes such as  Sardar Sarovar Scheme (1980) and Tehri Dam Project etc. The main emphasis of session was on the importance of Tehri Dam and mitigation of flood control during Badrinath natural calamity. This dam proved to be a boon for Delhi otherwise national capital could have been ruined within 7 hours.

The 2nd session started at 12’o’clock in which Mr. A.K Lohani, Scientist from Roorkee, Member of National Institute of Hydrology, explained world water balance, various land uses, divisions as per their use. In this informative session, world water scarcity and its solutions were discussed. Mr. Lohani also explained various new developments for solution of scarcity of world water such as virtual water transfer method, Ganga Kavery link etc.

Dr. Ashok K Keshari, Professor, IIT Delhi, in his technical session deliberated that the prime objective is to conserve the abundant monsoon water by creating storage reservoirs to transfer it to water deficient areas. ILR plans such as Himalayan Rivers Development, Peninsular Rivers Development, Interstate River Linking are the various goals of Indian government. He also discussed the conflict issues, ecological issues, environmental issues etc.

The next invited speaker Prof. M.K Sinha explained that Himalayan links are needed to overcome from drought situations in various regions of India.

Prof. Ashish Sharma then presented a paper on effects of interlinking of rivers on spatial and temporal variation of water resources and rainfall in India.

Mr. H.N Dixit, the chief guest, delivered another technical session and discussed population issues, measures for eliminating drought and flood effects. He also explained disadvantages of linking rivers as following:

1. Conflict between states.

2. River population.

3. Land acquisition.

4. Financial problem.

5. Rehabilitation problem.