New Delhi, Mar 21: A Parliamentary panel has raised concerns over the underutilisation of funds in the Interlinking of Rivers scheme during 2025-26 and called for faster execution to ensure timely completion of key projects.
In its report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources noted that only about 25 per cent of the Revised Estimates allocation had been utilised till the last quarter of the financial year, reflecting slow progress and poor financial management.
The scheme, implemented by the National Water Development Agency under the National Perspective Plan formulated in 1980, envisages 30 river link projects — 16 in the Peninsular component and 14 in the Himalayan component — aimed at transferring water from surplus to deficit basins and improving availability in drought-prone regions.
According to the report, the allocation was reduced from Rs 2,400 crore at the Budget Estimates stage to Rs 1,808.29 crore at the Revised Estimates stage, while actual expenditure till December 31, 2025, stood at just Rs 453.16 crore.
The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation informed the panel that delays in Daudhan Dam works, slow progress in state components, canal renovation in Uttar Pradesh, and limited advancement in Madhya Pradesh contributed to the low utilisation.
Expressing dismay, the committee said the sluggish pace undermines an ambitious programme aimed at addressing water scarcity, flood control and drought mitigation.
It recommended that the department, in coordination with states, adopt a proactive approach to accelerate implementation and ensure optimal utilisation of funds.
The panel also emphasised the importance of the Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link project, which integrates the earlier PKC river link with the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project to channel surplus monsoon water from the Chambal basin to water-scarce areas of Rajasthan.
Given its significance, the committee urged closer coordination between the Centre and the governments of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to ensure the project’s timely completion. (Agencies)
