The programme of Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) in India has been one of the most ambitious ideas ever, of any government till date. It is an idea that has conjured up visions for the common Indian — of a country free from floods and droughts, and people in Tamil Nadu tasting the sweet waters of the holy Ganges. Such images of passion and emotion contrasted together with the recurring floods and droughts in various parts of the country have helped those in power to sell the dream of river linking to the people.

Backed by the Supreme Court judgement and a supportive and a strong advocate of the project, the President of India, the NDA government went all out to promote and get this project initiated. The present UPA government is also taking forward this idea.

A project of this magnitude needs to go through a transparent and public process of evaluation in terms of, not only the economic costs and benefits, but in all aspects of project planning. What we have until now, are only a few pre-feasibility reports of some of the links. The first report to have been put in the public domain was that of the Ken-Betwa link. The National Civil Society Committee on Interlinking of Rivers in India (NCSCILR) which has started a dialogue on this subject, has brought together experts from around the country to analyse the first pre-feasibility report put out by the government.

The book is one of the first attempts in India to look at the river linking project from a rational and well researched perspective. It is not a one sided view; care has been taken to analyse the project in an unbiased way. The book throws up various pros and cons associated with the project, and also gives insights into how such projects can be analysed. On the Ken-Betwa link, various experts have pointed out the gaps in the pre-feasibilty report, where further work needs to be done, and what needs to be taken into consideration when such projects are planned.

Thus, the book is a first step in starting a well informed debate in the country, based on facts and figures, and not on rhetoric and unreasoned passion. It is left to the readers to form their own opinions about the project after going through the various arguments put forth by experts.

Yoginder K. Alagh is currently Chancellor, Nagaland University and President of Human Development Institute. Prof. Alagh was former Minister of Power and Planning and Science and Technology, Government of India. Earlier he was Vice Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.

Ganesh Pangare is a water management expert currently the Technical Director of the World Water Institute, based in Pune. He has authored several publications, the most recent being Springs of Life: India’s Water Resources, (Academic Foundation, 2006).

Biksham Gujja is policy advisor of Living Waters Programme at WWF-International. He is also special project scientist based at ICRISAT, Hyderabad. Dr. Gujja is a water policy specialist and associated with several global initiatives.