Abstract
India is a vast country in terms of natural resources and considered one of the mega- biodiversity countries in the world. The freshwater aquatic resources of the different river basins are unevenly distributed in space and time and the country is suffering from the increasing population and shortage of all kind of natural resources like water. To fulfill the water demand and mitigate flood and drought, Indian Government has been planning a huge scheme encompassing the Himalayas and most of India, by linking all major rivers through interlinking canals systems and building several dams. Though the concept of interlinking of rivers is novel and new in India, it had rather initiated long back in other countries of ancient civilization. This is considered as one of the options to remedy spatial mismatch in water availability and demand. To overcome those, National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has taken up massive project and nearly 30 links have been proposed to interlink the major rivers. The Government of India has approved the country’s first river interlinking project on Ken–Betwa and a MOU has been signed among the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and the Union Government. The feasibility report of most of the links have been completed and detailed project reports of Ken–Betwa River link is expected to be finalized soon. Our study indicated presence of rich fish diversity and threatened fishes in river Betwa and improved aquatic environment in river Ken which makes it a high priority area in view of proposed interlinking. The current state of knowledge indicates that large dams, interbasin transfers and water withdrawal from rivers have many negative as well as positive impacts on freshwater aquatic ecosystem. As regards to the impact on fish and aquatic biodiversity, there could be positive as well as negative impacts. The present paper is aimed at explaining and synthesizing the long term plan and its implications, creating baseline database, requirement of appropriate technology, manpower and related issues especially with reference to riverine aquatic ecosystem and conservation of fish biodiversity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ali I (2004) Interlinking of Indian rivers. Curr Sci 86:4
Bechara JA, Domitrovic HA, Quintana CF, Roux JP, Jacobo WR, Gavilan G (1996) The effect of gas supersaturation on fish health below Yacyreta dam (Parana river, Argentina), pp 5–12
Biological Diversity Act (2002) With statement of objects and reasons and notes on clauses. Professional Book Publishers, New Delhi, pp 27. Download available at site of National Biodiversity Authority of India. http://www.nbaindia.org/act/act_english.htm
Bosi M (2000) An initial view on methodologies for emission baselines: electricity generation case study, IEA information paper. International Energy, Paris
Bradka J, Rehackova V (1964) Mass destruction of fish in the Slapy Reservoir in winter 1962–63. Vodni Hospodarstvi 14:451–452
Bruton MN (1995) Have fish have their chips. Dilemma Threat Fish 43:1–27
Cadwallader PL (1990) Fish. In: Mackay N, Eastburn D (eds) The Murray. Murray darling basin commission, Canberra, pp 317–363
Copp GH, Penaz JM, Olivier Roux AL (1991) Juvenile fishes as functional describers of fluvial ecosystem dynamics. Regul River 6:135–145
Cox WE (1999) Preface. In: Proceeding of International Workshop on Inter basin water transfer, International Hydrological Programme, UNESCO, Paris
Das Gupta (2004) Proposal for interlinking the river of India. In: Water security and management of water resources. Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Calcutta, pp 21–44
Dudgeon D (2005) River management for conservation of freshwater biodiversity in monsoonal Asia. Ecol Soc 10(2):15
Duncan JR, Lockwood JL (2001) Extinction in a field of bullets: a search for causes in the decline of the world’s freshwater fishes. Biol Conserv 102:97–105
Ebel WJ, Tanonaka GK, Monan GE, Raymond HL, Park DL (1979) The Snake River salmon and steelhead crisis: its relation to dams and the national energy shortage. Northeast and Alaska Fisheries Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seatle
Environmental News Services (2003) http:/www.ens-news-wire.com/ens/jul/2003
Gehrke PC, Brown P, Schiller CB, Moffatt DB, Bruce AM (1995) River regulation and fish communities in the Murry- Darling River system, Australia. Regul River 11:363–375
Holden PB, Stalnker CB (1975) Distribution and abundance of Mainstream fishes of the middle and upper Colorado River Basin 1967–1973. Trans Am Soc 104(2):217–231
Hora SL (1929) An aid to the study of Hamilton-Buchanan’s “Gangetic fishes”. Mem Indian Mus 9:169–192
Hubbs C, Pigg J (1976) The effects of impoundments on threatened fishes of Oklahoma. Ann Okla Acad Sci 5:133–177
International commition of large dams (ICOLD) (1998) World Register of Dams 1998. ICOLD, Paris
Jackson D, Marmulla G (2000) Contributing paper for WCD thematic review II. Ecosystems, pp 12–13
Jain SK, Reddy NSRK, Chaube UC (2005) Analysis of a large inter-basin water transfer system in India. Hydrol Sci J 50:125–137
Jhingran AG, Ghosh KK (1978) The fisheries of the Ganga river system in the context of Indian aquaculture. Aquaculture 14:141–162
Korse KH (2004) River linking project: case- specific approach is needed. Curr Sci 87(12):1643
Kottelat M, Whitten T (1996) Freshwater biodiversity in Asia with special reference to fish. World Bank technical paper 343, p 59
L’vovich ML, White GF (1990) Use and transformation of terrestrial water system. The earth as transformed by human action: global and regional change in the biosphere over the past 300 years. In: Clark WC, Katessetai RW (eds) Turner BL II. Cambridge University press, Cambridge, UK
Lakra WS (2008) Conservation and sustainable utilization of aquatic genetic resources. Suvenir. 8th Indian Fisheries Forum, Kolkata, 22–26 Nov 2008, pp 93–103
Lakra WS, Sarkar UK, Sani R, Pandey A, Dubey VK, Gusain OP (2010) Diversity, distribution, ecohydrology, threats and conservation issues of freshwater fishes in a tropical Indian River. Environmentalist. doi: 10.1007/s10669-010-9277-6
Leidy RA, Moyle PB (1998) Conservation status of the world’s freshwater fish fauna: an overview. In: Fielder PL, Karieva PM (eds) Conservation biology: for the coming decade, 2nd edn. Chapman and Hall, New York, pp 187–227
McAllister DJ, Craig ND, Murray D, Seddon M (2001) Biodiversity impacts of large dams. Background paper 1, International Union for Conservation of Nature, and United Nations Environmental Programme, Gland, Switzerland
Misra AK, Saxena A, Yaduvanshi M, Mishra A, Bhadauriya Y, Thakur A (2007) Proposed river linking project of India: a boon to nature. Environ Geol 51:1361–1376
Nath D, Srivastava NP (1999) Decline in carp fishery in Narmada in the context of construction of dam on the river and its tributaries. J Inland Fish Soc India 31(2):25–27
National Academy of agricultural Sciences, India (2004) Policy paper 28, impact of inter river basin linkages on fisheries
National Water Development Agency (NDWA) (1982) http://www.ndwda.gov.in
Pandey RP, Mishra SK, Singh R, Ramasastri KS (2007) Streamflow drought severity analysis of Betwa river system (India). Water Resour Manage. doi: 10.1007/s1126-007-9216-6
Pathak V, Tyagi RK (2010) Riverine ecology and fisheries vis-à-vis hydrodynamic alterations: Impacts and remedial measures. Bull. No.-161, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata, West Bengal
Poff NL, Ward JV (1989) Implication of stream flow variability and predictability for lotic community structure: a regional analysis of stream flow patterns. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 46:805–1818
Ponniah AG, Gopalakrishnan A (2000) Endemic fish diversity of Western Ghats. National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Lucknow, U.P., India, p 347
Raymond HL (1979) Effects on dams and impoundments on the migration rate of juvenile chinook salmon and steelhead trout from the Snake River, 1966–1975. Trans Am Fish Soc 108(6):509–529
Reeves GH, Hohler DB, Hansen BE, Everest FH, Sedell JR, Hickman TL, Shively D (1997) Fish habitat restoration in the Pecific Northwest: fish creek of Oregon. Watershed Restoration: principles and practices, pp 335–359
Rosenberg D, Berkes RA, Hecky RE, Kelly CA, Rudd JWM (1997) Large scale impact of hydroelectric development. Environ Rev 5:27–54
Rupkumar K, Krishnakumar K, Pant GB (1999) Diurnal asymmetry of surface temperature tends over India. Geophys Res Lett 21:677–680
Sarkar UK, Lakra WS (2007) An overview of the diversity and conservation status of freshwater fishes of Central India. In: Lakra WS, Sarkar UK (eds) Freshwater fish diversity of Central India. National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, pp 7–18
Schiemer F, Spindler T (1989) Endangered fish species of the Danube River in Austria. Regul River 4:397–407
Schlosser IJ (1985) Flow regime, juvenile abundance, and the assemblage structure of stream fishes. Ecology 66:1484–1490
Sear DA (1995) Morphological and sedimentological changes in a gravid bed river following 12 years of flow regulation for hydropower. Regul River Res Manage 10:247–264
Sharma R (2003) Protection of an endangered fish Tor tor and Tor putitora population impacted by transportation network in the area of Tehri dam project, Garhwal Himalaya, India. ICOET Proceedings
Shetty HPC, Malhotra JC (1983) A report on the north Bihar in relation to effects of Gandak and Koshi river valley projects on the fisheries of the area. Survey report 7, CIFRI Barrackpore, Kolkata
Shiva V, Jalees K (2003) Living water, the impact of the river linking project. Sujalam Pub., Navdanya, New Delhi
Smith BD (1998) River Dolphins in Bangladesh: conservation and the effects of water development. Environ Manage 22(3):323–335
St. Louis VL, Kelly CA, Duchemin E, Rudd JWM, Rosenberg DM (2000) Sources of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere: a global estimate. Bioscience 50(9):766–775
The Hindu (2008) www.TheHindu.com/2008/10/29/stories/200810295532130.htm
Tremblay A, Therrien J, Hamlin B, Wichmann E, LeDrew LJ (2005) GHG emissions from boreal reservoirs and natural aquatic ecosystems. In: Tremblay A, Varfalvy L, Roehm C, Garneau M (eds) Greenhouse gas emissions—fluxes and processes: hydroelectric reservoirs and natural environments. Springer, New York, pp 209–232
Tyagi RK, Panwar RC, Chandra R (1999) Impact of dams and barrages on riverine fisheries National seminar on Ecofriendly management of resource for doubling fish production—strategies for 21st century. Inland fisheries society of India and CIFRI, Barrackpore. 23–23 Dec 1999
Vaholikar N, Firoz Ahmed M (2003) Tracking a Hydel project: the story of lower Subansiri Ecologist Asia 11(1) Jan–March
Vass KK, Das MK, Srivastava PK, Dey S (2009) Assessing the impact of climate change on inland fisheries in River Ganga and its plains in India. Aquatic Ecosyst Health Manage 12(2):138–151
Vishwanath W, Lakra WS, Sarkar UK (2007) Fishes of North East India. NBFGR publication, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Lucknow, pp 1–290
Vőrősmarty CJ, Sharma PK, Fekete BM, Copeland AH, Holden J, Marble J, Lough JA (1997) The storage and ageing of continental runoff in large reservoir systems of world. Ambio 26(4):210–219
Walker KF (1985) A review of the ecological effects of river regulation in Australia. Hydrobiologia 125:111–129
Welcomme RL (1985) River fisheries. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nation. FAO. Fisheries Technical Paper No. 262
World Commission on Dams (WCD) (2000) Dams and development: a new framework for decision-making. Report of the World Commission on Dams, Thematic review II. 1 Ecosystems, section 3, Cape Town, South Africa
The WCD Thematic Review II.2 Global Change and a WCD Workshop on the topic provide reviews of the literature and the perspectives of scientists working in this field
Acknowledgments
The second author is thankful to Director, NBFGR for continuous encouragement and constructive suggestions. Authors would like to thank Department of Biotechnology (DBT), govt. of India, New Delhi for financial assistance. We have been immensely benefited from the research paper titled “Proposed river linking project of India: a boon or bane to nature” published by Misra et al. (2007).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lakra, W.S., Sarkar, U.K., Dubey, V.K. et al. River inter linking in India: status, issues, prospects and implications on aquatic ecosystems and freshwater fish diversity. Rev Fish Biol Fisheries 21, 463–479 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-011-9199-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-011-9199-5