India river interlinking and water infrastructure projects

India is advancing its National Perspective Plan for the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR), a large-scale initiative involving 30 river projects across the Himalayan and Peninsular regions. The plan aims to transfer surplus water to drought-prone areas to improve agriculture, domestic water availability, and hydropower capacity while managing floods.

As of August 2026, the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) has been identified as the only priority project under the plan to have entered the implementation stage. With an estimated cost of ₹44,605 crore, KBLP is expected to provide irrigation to 11.88 lakh hectares and drinking water to 62 lakh people. Additionally, the Polavaram Irrigation Project, which includes the Godavari-Krishna link, is being executed as a National Project with significant central assistance.

Related infrastructure developments include the approval of the 1,800 MW Panari Standalone Pump Storage Project in Madhya Pradesh. This project, located within the Panna–Ranipur Tiger Corridor, involves the diversion of forest land for reservoirs but includes mandates for wildlife underpasses and overpasses to protect tiger movement.