Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Telangana River-Linking Projects Remain Stuck at DPR Stage
India has many big rivers, but some places have more water than they need while others have too little.
River-linking is a plan to join rivers with canals so that water can be shared across the country.
Telangana is one Indian state that wants to link its rivers.
A status report from the Union Jal Shakti ministry says Telangana's river-linking projects are still only on paper.
Engineers have completed written studies called Detailed Project Reports, which check whether the plans can work.
But no building work has started on any of Telangana's projects yet.
Across India, out of 30 planned river-linking projects, only one is under construction.
That project, the Ken–Betwa Link, will connect rivers in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Before Telangana's projects can start, the states sharing the rivers must agree and sign a deal.
Once all the states agree, the government will provide money to begin construction.
Telangana's proposed river-linking projects remain at the feasibility and Detailed Project Report (DPR) stages, with none moved forward under the National Perspective Plan (NPP).
According to the Union Jal Shakti ministry's status report, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 interlinking projects — 16 under the Peninsular component and 14 under the Himalayan component.
The Ken–Betwa Link Project in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh is the only priority project under the NPP to have entered the implementation stage, at an estimated cost of ₹44,605 crore.
The modified DPR for the Godavari (Inchampalli)–Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link was completed in January 2024, projecting irrigation benefits for 2.38 lakh hectares, domestic and industrial water supply of 232 million cubic metres and 26 MW of hydropower.
Funds for an interlinking project are generally allocated only after participating states reach consensus and sign an implementation agreement, the Centre has said.
- Who
- Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, who gave a written reply in Rajya Sabha; the National Water Development Agency; and the participating states including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
- What
- Telangana's river-linking projects remain at the feasibility and Detailed Project Report (DPR) stages, with none moved forward under the National Perspective Plan (NPP).
- When
- Information was provided in Rajya Sabha on Monday; the Godavari (Inchampalli)–Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) DPR was completed in January 2024 and the Godavari (Inchampalli/Sitamma Sagar)–Krishna (Pulichintala) DPR in March 2024.
- Where
- Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with the Ken–Betwa Link involving Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and the broader linkage involving Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
- Why
- Implementation awaits consensus among participating states and signed implementation agreements; the broader Godavari–Krishna–Pennar–Cauvery linkage requires agreement among Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, after which funds are generally allocated.
- Project status
- Feasibility and DPR stages; none of Telangana's projects implemented
- Interlinking projects identified
- 30 (16 Peninsular, 14 Himalayan)
- Only project under implementation
- Ken–Betwa Link Project (Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh)
- Ken–Betwa estimated cost
- ₹44,605 crore
- Godavari (Inchampalli)–Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) DPR
- Completed January 2024; circulated to states
- Projected benefits (Inchampalli–Nagarjunasagar)
- 2.38 lakh hectares irrigation, 232 million cubic metres water supply, 26 MW hydropower
- Godavari (Sitamma Sagar)–Krishna (Pulichintala) DPR
- Completed March 2024; 4.74 lakh hectares irrigation across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
- Funding condition
- State consensus and signed implementation agreement; environmental and socio-economic assessments planned