For Water Preservation, River Coordination is the Demand of Today’s Time Essay For Upsc

Water is life. Without water, no living being can survive. Human beings, animals, birds, trees, and even the smallest insects need water. In our daily life, we use water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing, farming, and running industries. But today, water has become one of the biggest problems in the world. Many parts of India and the world are facing a water crisis. At the same time, in some other places, rivers are overflowing with floods. This shows that water is not distributed properly. Therefore, the idea of river coordination or river linking has become an important demand of today’s time.

The Importance of Water

Water is the most important natural resource. It is said that if there is no water, there will be no life. Our body is made up of almost 70% water. Plants also need water for photosynthesis and to grow. Farmers need water for irrigation to grow food. Factories need water for production. Cities need water supply for drinking and sanitation. Thus, water touches every part of human life.

But water is not unlimited. Only about 3% of all the water on Earth is fresh water, and only a small part of that is usable for drinking. This means we must use water wisely and save it for future generations.

The Problem of Unequal Distribution of Water

One of the biggest problems today is the unequal distribution of water. Some areas have heavy rainfall, while others have very little. For example, the North-East of India receives a lot of rain, while states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of Madhya Pradesh often face drought. In the same way, during monsoon, rivers in Bihar and Assam overflow and cause floods, while in other states farmers wait for water to irrigate their fields.

This imbalance in water availability is harming both people and nature. It creates floods in one place and droughts in another. To solve this, river coordination is the best solution.

What is River Coordination?

River coordination or river linking means connecting rivers of one region to the rivers of another region through canals, dams, and reservoirs. The idea is simple: the rivers that have too much water during monsoon can share their water with the rivers that are dry. This way, extra water from flood-prone areas will be diverted to drought-prone areas.

For example, if the Ganga River has excess water, it can be connected to rivers in Rajasthan or Gujarat which have less water. This can reduce both floods and droughts.

Benefits of River Coordination

1. Better Water Availability

If rivers are linked, every region will get water throughout the year. Farmers will not depend only on rainfall. Irrigation will become easier, and agriculture will grow faster.

2. Reduction of Floods and Droughts

Flood-prone areas will face fewer disasters because extra water will be diverted. Similarly, drought-prone areas will get water and become green. This balance will reduce the suffering of people.

3. Increase in Food Production

With better irrigation, farmers can grow more crops. India can become self-sufficient in food. It will also help in producing cash crops for export.

4. Growth of Industries

Industries need water for their functioning. If water is available everywhere, industries can be set up in different regions. This will create jobs and boost the economy.

5. Improvement in Transportation

River linking will also improve inland water transport. Canals and rivers can be used to transport goods, which is cheaper and more eco-friendly than road transport.

6. Environment and Groundwater Recharge

Rivers and canals will recharge groundwater levels. This will help in maintaining ecological balance, support forests, and protect wildlife.

Challenges in River Coordination

Though river coordination has many benefits, it is not easy to implement. Some of the challenges are:

1.High Cost – Building dams, canals, and tunnels requires huge amounts of money.

2.Displacement of People – Villages may have to be shifted for building dams and reservoirs.

3.Environmental Concerns – Cutting forests or disturbing natural flow of rivers may affect wildlife.

4.Political Disputes – Rivers flow across different states. Sometimes states fight over water sharing. River linking will need cooperation from all states.

River Coordination Projects in India

India has already started working on river coordination. The Government of India has made a plan called the National River Linking Project (NRLP). The project has two parts:

1.Himalayan Rivers Development – Linking the rivers of North India, like the Ganga and Yamuna, with other rivers.

2.Peninsular Rivers Development – Linking rivers in South India, like the Krishna, Kaveri, and Godavari.

Some projects, like the Ken-Betwa river linking project in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, have already started. This project will bring water to dry areas of Bundelkhand.

Why River Coordination is the Demand of Today’s Time

In today’s world, the population is increasing rapidly. More people means more demand for food, water, and energy. At the same time, climate change is making rainfall uncertain. Droughts and floods are becoming common. If we do not act now, future generations may face a water crisis.

River coordination is the best way to solve this problem. It will ensure fair distribution of water across India. It will help farmers, industries, cities, and villages. It will also reduce natural disasters. Most importantly, it will preserve water for the future.

Steps Needed for Success

To make river coordination successful, some steps must be taken:

1.Cooperation between central and state governments.

2.Proper study of environmental impacts.

3.Fair rehabilitation of displaced people.

4.Use of modern technology for safe and cost-effective construction.

5.Spreading awareness among people about water conservation.

Water is precious, and we cannot waste it. Today, some rivers are flooding while others are drying. This imbalance must be corrected. River coordination is a great solution for water preservation. It can turn dry lands green, reduce floods, support agriculture, boost industries, and help the overall development of the country.

Therefore, for water preservation, river coordination is truly the demand of today’s time. If we take the right steps today, we can give a water-secure future to the coming generations.