Big Business Opportunities in India with River Linking Projects
India is set to see business opportunities worth Rs 2 lakh crore for engineering, procurement, and construction companies over the next decade with the completion of four major river linking projects, according to a report by ICRA.
Key Projects and Funding
The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 interlinking river (ILR) projects, including 16 peninsular river links and 14 Himalayan river links. These projects will be funded by both the central and state governments.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti’s budget has seen a significant increase, surpassing Rs 78,000 crore in 2024-25, largely due to the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Priority Projects
ICRA has highlighted four priority projects: Ken-Betwa, Kosi-Mechi, Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal, and Godavari-Cauvery. These projects are expected to be completed at a cost of Rs 2.6 lakh crore by 2034-35.
| Project | Percentage of Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Godavari-Cauvery | 45% |
| Ken-Betwa | 21% |
| Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal | 30% |
| Kosi-Mechi | 4% |
Chintan Lakhani, Vice President and Sector Head – Corporate Ratings at ICRA, mentioned that the current share of these projects in the ministry’s budget is minimal but is expected to increase as more projects are approved and construction progresses.
Doubts Revealed
River Linking Projects -: These are projects where rivers are connected to each other through canals and reservoirs to manage water resources better.
Rs 2 lakh crore -: This is a huge amount of money, equal to 2 trillion rupees, which is a lot of money in India.
Engineering, procurement, and construction companies -: These are companies that design, buy materials, and build big projects like bridges, roads, and buildings.
National Water Development Agency -: This is a government agency in India that plans and manages water resources and river linking projects.
Central and state governments -: These are the main governing bodies in India. The central government is the national government, and state governments are for each state in India.
Ministry of Jal Shakti -: This is a part of the Indian government that looks after water resources and drinking water supply.
Jal Jeevan Mission -: This is a government program in India aimed at providing safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households by 2024.
Ken-Betwa, Kosi-Mechi, Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal, Godavari-Cauvery -: These are names of rivers in India that are part of the river linking projects to help manage water better.