National Waterways Project (NWP Synopsis: Our Country has developed in many fields and our growth in Information Technology, Automobile and communication is amazing. Our GDP is good at around 7 to 8% comparing well with many Countries. But the growth is not even and we are lagging behind in many fields. Even after sixty years of Independence, we are still importing food to meet our growing demand and the prices are shooting up. We are at loss when it comes to keep our food prices under control. Many towns & cities are not getting enough protected water supply & even our capital city is no exemption. People have to walk many kilometers in rural areas to fetch a pot of water. Our Power requirement is shooting up and there is a big gap between demand and supply in many States. Often we have to resort to power cut putting the residences & industries to great inconvenience. Our infrastructure throughout the Country is not satisfying & we loose a few lakhs crores of our precious foreign exchange every year on oil import alone. The flood & drought is regular phenomena putting many thousands of people in distress. If we want a wealthy & healthy India, then we must drive towards 1. Food Security 2. Power Security 3. Drinking water security 4. Health security 5. Employment security 6. Eco Security 7. Infrastructure -Good Highways & smart waterways. Is these all possible? Yes, by developing our National waterways as proposed by Prof.A.C.Kamaraj & his devoted team. The National waterways (NWP) have been developed to achieve wealthy & healthy India. For Convenience of operations, this waterways have been compartmentalized as North, Central & South. To achieve wealthy India, the National Waterways is the answer. Wealthy India: National Waterways (NWW) harness only the flood water, stores and distribute to the needy area. As the waterways harness only the flood water flood damage during monsoon is greatly reduced. It is possible to maintain reasonable supply of water to vast area for drinking & irrigation. It will be a big boost for the development of India. The Project: The National Waterways Project” (NWP), conceived by Er. A.C. Kamaraj and developed by a team of devoted experts, numbering over 100, is a new concept for Networking of all major rivers in the Country by waterways. This concept is different and better than earlier proposals. The special feature of the project is retrieval of only floodwater, which is now going unutilized to the sea. This is far more than the utilizable water. Concept of this proposal - “Every State gains and No State is a loser”. Major advantage - there is no pumping anywhere in the whole system. Technical Details: The National Waterways Project is a Networking of Rivers by Waterways and envisages construction of three waterways, one in the north, the other in the centre and a third in the south namely. 1) The Himalayan Waterways of 4500 km. Length, at tentatively 500m Contour (MSL) connecting Yamuna, Ganga, Bramhaputra and all the tributaries of the Ganga. 2) The Central waterways of 5750 km length, at 250 m MSL or less connecting tributaries of the river Ganga (on south), Mahanadhi, Narmada, Tapti, etc., 3) The Southern waterways 4650 km length, at 250 m MSL or less connecting, the river Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, West flowing rivers in Kerala. The width of the waterways is 120 m and depth is 10 m. The waterways run at the same contour. There will also be a continuous balancing waterway on the upper side of the National Waterways (NWW), which will act as one long reservoir to feed the National Waterways. The width of the waterways is suitably designed to arrest the on coming rush of flood water and also to avoid any silt entering the NWW. The balancing waterways have huge carrying capacity to control floods and at the same time acts as Mass Transit System. The three waterways are inter-connected suitably. The waterways have the triple functions of impounding, transmitting and distributing flood water among various river basins, and will have an annual impounding capacity about 15,000 TMC of flood water. The salient feature is that the large rivers need not be tackled, and instead only the tributaries are tackled, thus rendering construction of smaller dams not exceeding 30 m high rather than large dams across major rivers. The natural ground formation of the country is a blessing and permits this at one elevation optionally chosen. The unique advantage of the proposal is that water transfer in the project is in either direction enabling water to flow from anyone region to any other region. As a result give and take policy is assured to all States in this project in the distribution of water. The project, in addition to providing a good network of smart navigation, which is operational around the year, will have hydropower generation through out the entire length of waterways, minimizing the transmission loss. In this system, the concept of surplus basin or deficit basin does not arise. No State is expected to spare its utilizable flow, which they can always reserve for their future use. Only when there is surplus (flood water) going to sea, the water will be let into waterways. The same State can get back water when required. Here, sometime surplus basin is a giver basin and sometime deficit basin like Cauvery or Krishna also become donor basins. Water Sharing: Water will flow smoothly in waterways just as power flows in a power grid and there will be no problem in sharing water between States. Water sharing between States will be similar to the present power sharing. Computer simulation for this has already been done at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. The project does not interfere with any of the existing irrigation systems. It only strengthens the existing System. Land acquisition is only 2% of the irrigated land compared to other conventional projects, which requires 6 to 10% land and thus reduces the displacement problem. More details are available on the website nationalwaterways Neighboring Countries: The NWP can be implemented within the Country in the first phase and can be extended in the second phase to the neighboring Countries like Nepal. Ecology and Environmental: In a mega project of this nature it will not suffice if one just sees the technology and engineering aspects alone. It is absolutely necessary that one must study at an early stage itself the environmental, economic aspects and peoples involvement. The positive aspects of environment outweigh negative impacts and in fact, it enhances the environment both directly and indirectly. Forest growth will be induced all along the Waterways. Parambikulam Aliyar Project in Tamilnadu is a standing example for this. It is expected a similar forest growth all along the waterways would pave way for cleansing the atmospheric air and attract more rains. 60,000 M.W. of hydropower reduces the burning of coal and oil that causes alarming pollution. The “Navigation” component reduces the fossil fuel pollution to a very large extent. The Oil consumption in Navigation is just 10 % of the oil for road transport. Hence 90% reduction in oil consumption will reduce Co2 emission greatly. The ground water recharge reduces power consumption to draw water from wells for irrigation and for drinking water and also avoids sea water intrusion. The Scientists have been warning us about the climate change and Global warming. Many factors like Navigation, Hydro – power, Ground water recharge, increased forest area etc. in NWP will reverse the climate change. Even a small fraction to arrest the climate change is a great welcome feature. Land Acquisition is only 2% compared to 6 to 10 % in conventional projects. Since the maximum height of the Dam is only 30 m, unlike in other proposals where Dam heights are 200 and 300 m, the displacement of people is very minimum. This mega project integrating all the states by waterways and providing drinking water to almost entire population ensures health security, food security and economic stability. Union Subject: In the constitution- article 246 – 7th schedule list 1/24 - provides for formation of Waterways similar to those of the national highways. Therefore, this project comes under the purview of the Government of India. Finance: Funding is no problem: The project is estimated to cost about Rs. 5.35 lakhs cr. (2003 Price) which includes construction of three waterways and the inter-linking arrangements, construction of mini / medium reservoirs wherever it crosses tributaries, power generation, land acquisition etc. The benefits in terms of revenue are estimated to be Rs.1.00 lakh cr. per year. There is therefore very good scope to implement the project under BOOT (Build Own operate and transfer) etc., reducing the financial strain and administrative machinery to the Government. Benefits: Drinking water: Nearly 600 million people will get uninterrupted drinking water in cities and rural areas. Navigation : Navigation is very economical consuming only 10% of the oil for road transport. Further the hydropower generation will also reduce the oil consumption. The total savings comes to Rs.1,50,000 cr./yr. and the entire amount will be a savings in the precious foreign exchange. Flood Control: The National Waterways are effective lot to route the hitherto unmanageable floods. It provides flood absorption capacity and also detouring floods to other areas concurrently. The peak flood and its damage will be greatly reduced. Agriculture: 150ml. acres additional area will get irrigation to meet our food requirements by 2050. A planned crop pattern will result in increased yield and efficient water management. Power: Pollution free hydropower generation will be 60,000 MW. Since the power can be generated throughout the entire waterways, transmission losses will be minimum. Further the ground water recharge will save nearly 40,000 MW. Hence, an equivalent of 1,00,000 MW of hydro power generation is available from this project alone. Employment: The employment generation in navigation, industrial production, irrigation etc will be nearly 200 million. Implementation: The entire project is planned to be completed with in a period of ten years including the preparation of feasibility and detailed project reports. The project management is to be handled by an authority headed by a technical person. Present Position: Seminars were conducted on NWP and many technical papers were presented by eminent experts. Awareness of the project among various sections is being created. More details, both technical and field data are being collected regularly by our expert team, consisting nearly over hundred members, which makes it a point to meet every week. Ministry of Water Resources: The Task Force on Inter-Linking of Rivers (TF-ILR) set up by the Ministry of Water Resources, (MOWR), Government of India, started seriously looking for alternate to NWDA proposal in the middle of 2003. The Independent Group of Experts (IGE) set up by Task Force on Inter-linking of Rivers (TF-ILR) reviewed various proposals including the proposed “Ganga – Kumari National Waterways Project”(NWP) and opined that the NWP proposal is the ‘best alternative”. The Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India invited us to present NWP on Sept. 6th 2004. Mr. Veerabhadraiah, Former Engineering Chief, Karnataka and member of our expert team also attended the presentation. After the presentation to the Secretary and top officials, there was another technical meeting with Engineers in NWDA and Central Water Commission (CWC) on Sept. 8th 2004 followed by one more meeting with the Secretary and top officials on September 9th 2004 The Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, has advised the NWDA to take up one segment of NWP proposal for investigation. Parliamentary Affairs Committee: The NWP was presented to Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) in Jan.2006. The PAC, after reviewing our proposal, has advised us to concentrate on Peninsular and take up Southern Waterways (SWW) early as this does not involve any International problem. The State Government of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar Kerala and West Bengal are apprised. They welcome the project and assured support. Tamilnadu and Bihar Government have accepted our proposal in principle. All the State Governments and the Central Government have been apprised of this proposal. The project details were discussed in Planning Commission, Ministry of Inland Waterways, Ministry of water Resources, Ministry of Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) for Water resources. The proposal was presented in the Expert Committee meeting on Jan. 18th 2005 and again in Oct.28th 2005. Our expert team met Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India. He has welcomed the project as it benefits almost all the states in India. On his advice, the project has been bifurcated conveniently for implementation with in each State and derive benefit. The President has clearly stated in his October 2008 speech at NAWAD Council meeting at Madurai, the advantages of the project and its benefits. Further Action: It is necessary to take up Techno Economic Feasibility Study for Southern waterways and collect the Geographical information system (GIS) along the entire waterways, which covers Maharastra, Andhra, Tamilnadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Goa and Karnataka. The feasibility study need to be taken up immediately along with computer simulation, compute model etc. and the same can be completed within one year so that we can move on to the next step of preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR). ***** NATIONAL WATERWAYS PROJECT AVAILABILITY OF WATER India receives of rainfall every year 400.00 m.ha.m. (Source – National Commission Agriculture 1974) Evaporation 70.00 “ Flow to the sea and other countries 150.00 m.ha.m. Allowing for other losses Total utilizable potential (including ground water) 114.00 “ Utilizable flow (excluding ground water) 69.00 “ (Source-Indian Water resources Society 1998) Of the utilizable 69.00 m.ha.m, already utilized 17.37 “ Under Execution 7.54 “ Under Planning 13.23 “ -------------- Total 38.14 -------------- Balance utilizable flow 69.0 – 38.14 30.86 “ But the National Waterways Project plans to utilize 43.00 m.ha.m. (15000 TMC) only out of the 150m.ha.m.of flood flows to the sea. This is just 30% of the water that flows to sea and other countries. Hence a balance of about 107 m.ha.m or about 70% of the annual flow still flows to the sea or other countries. This is because of the higher dependability in view of networking all major rivers. *** NWP – COST EFFECTIVE 1. Gangai-Cauvery Link - By K.L. Rao a) Length of waterways - 2640 KM b) Water Transferred - 60,000 Cusecs c) Pumping over Vindya Mountain - 1800 ft d) Irrigation - 10 million acres e) Cost - Rs.3,00,000 cr. f) Cost /acre - Rs. 3,00,000 2. Linking all rivers by Captain Dastur a) Total length - 13,000 Km. b) Irrigation - 540ml. acres c) Power - Not estimated. d) Cost - Rs.120,00,000 cr. ( 1979 price) or 700,00,000cr. (2003 price) e) Cost /acre - Rs. 12,96,000 3. NWDA proposal: (under investigation since 1982) a) Feasibility report completed - 16 links Balance 14 links b) Detailed project report taken for one link. c) Pumping - 116m head d) Flood Control - Moderate (4% of the peak flood) e) Navigation - 5 Months with small draught f) Irrigation - 87.5 ml acres g) Power generation - 34,000 mw h) Cost - Rs. 5,60,000 crores (2002 price) i ) Cost / acre - Rs. 64,000 j) Cost / acre - Rs.1,03,000 (2007 Price) 4. National Waterways Project by Er. A.C. Kamaraj a) Length - 15000 KM. b) Pre-feasibility - 1 year. Detailed Project Report - 2 years. Total period10 years. Execution - 7 years c) Pumping - No Pumping. d) Flood Control - Very effective (40% of the peak flood) e) Navigation - Throughout the year with 10 m draught f) Irrigation - 150 ml. acres. g) Power - 60,000 MW h) Cost - Rs. 5,35,000 cr. i) Cost / acre - Rs. 35,700. (2003 Price) j) Cost / acre - Rs.52,000 (2007 Price)
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 15:25:56 +0000
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