Page 143 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

Many areas in Western, Central and Southern India receive
minimum rainfall while the Northern and Eastern regions
receive very high rains. As a result, Western, Central and
Southern regions suffer water scarcity while Northern and
Eastern India suffer floods. Water of Northern rivers is wasted
by flowing into the sea. This surplus water can be diverted to
Western, Central and Southern regions by linking the Northern
rivers with Southern rivers. A map of this project given on the
next page, is self-explanatory. The project will give employment
to millions of people. It will create a huge network of inexpensive
inland water transportation, which will promote trade and
tourism. Overall, the project will aid industries and agriculture
to flourish. Moreover, it will save North India from the damage
caused by the floods every year. This project has been stalled by
social activists. A former President and a Chief Justice of India
urged the then government to revive the project. However, no
government has shown the courage and the will to take up this
project. Ironically, the people of India have not agitated for this
highly creative (of national wealth) project as they have other
destructive (of national wealth) projects to agitate for! In years
to come, India is going to become a water scarcity country.
Therefore, it should be clearly understood that we must take up
this project sooner than later. It is better that India starts on this
project at the earliest.

China is already a water scarcity country. It is overcoming
this problem by diverting water from rivers of its water rich
Southern regions to water scarce Northern regions. In addition,
China is constructing dams on rivers in Tibet, which supply
water to Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. These dams are being
constructed for diverting their waters to China’s water scarce
regions. This action will reduce water-flow in the three river
basins of Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra, which will adversely
affect Northern and Eastern India. Further, this will jeopardise
the Inter-Linking of Rivers project. China’s actions primarily
threaten India’s water security, and ultimately its national
security/interest. Water being a fundamental essentiality of life;
perhaps, China is threatening the very survival of India.

Right-thinking academicians should build a case which will

141 Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata