UGC Sponsored National seminar – 17.09.

2004

IS THE LINKING OF RIVERS EASY IN INDIA?

Muthuirulappan Srinivasan

Lecturer, Dept. of Biochemistry. Sourashtra College, Madurai.

Abstract

The aim of linking of rivers in India is to solve the water scarcity in southern
India. Experts are thinking that when surplus water in northern India is diverted to southern
side it will reduce the risk of flood during the rainy season. Other advantages are the
economic transportation through river ports and raising ground water level. Instead of
linking rivers, if the dams are connected with the pipeline, water can be stored and can be
used along with the existing water. This does not make any change in geographic structure
of rivers and thus protect natural ecosystem, where as, linking of dams by river canals is
usually not possible as they have height difference and requires continuous pumping of
water. Moreover connecting Southern State Rivers by the pipeline is easily possible
because all the dams are lower than the height of dams in Himalayas, where from the river
Ganges originates. This will facilitate natural flow. Thus this paper discusses the merits
and demerits of river linking by canals and dam linking by pipelines. Guidance for technical
consideratioi1 with neat systematic, schematic, and diagrammatic representation are
explained. All these thought are purely hypothetical, the final decision to be made as per
the viewers opinion.

Current Address
( from 2008)

Dr. M. SRINIVASAN, Ph.D,

Center for Advanced Research in Indian System of Medicine
SASARTA University
Thanjavur- TN. India.
Mail ID : sriniclic@hotmail.com , sriniclic@gmail.com
UGC Sponsored National seminar - 17.09.2004

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is there any possibility by pipe linking?

Yes, there are inter continental pipe lines carrying petroleum products & just like
Railway lines it can pass through any place even through city. The arrangement of pipe
lines are shown in Fig 10 & 15

2. What size of pipes we need?

Usually. a dam delivers its water through 2-3 pipe lines having 0.5m-1.m
diameter for hydro power station, this outlet water is the site of river origin for many
Southern States rivers.

3. Will 2-3 lines be sufficient?

This is an additional amount of water receiving for the dam with the existing
natural collection more over additional water will be received through out the year. So,
water can be saved and used.

4. How many such pipe lines are required for the river?

If a dam receives 3 pipes, for 20 no. of dams the requirement will be 20X3 = 60
pipe lines. Otherwise if there are 5 dams at a river at least of 6 rivers can have this facility.
Of course, Southern Major rivers are not exceeding the no: six.

5. Is power required for pumping?

No, because all the dams of southern rivers are the below the level of Himalayas
- if necessary a artificial dam can be made at high level of Himalayas - from that a natural
flow of water through pipe line can be made.
NOTE: Various height levels and linking methods are shown in Fig. 6

6. Is it safe during flood & war?

Yes it is more safe is conducted by the closed vessels. The flow of water can be
controlled through the regulator valves and openings. When ever required we can stop it
fully.

7. Is it safe to Ecosystem?

Yes, does not require deforestation & evacuation. Pollution, addition of sewage
line is highly impossible. It will not affect the ecology and environment.
 8. Is it economic than the canal linking?

Yes, it is more economic because any size of pipeline in any material like, metal
pipes, flexible telephone cable like tubes, RCC Cement pipes, bore well PVC pipes etc,
can be used. Depends on the requirement and convenience either by the size or the no of
pipe line may be extended to meet out the demand.

At initial level a demo link can be made in case of any failure we can easily
abandon or dismantle it where as in canal closing will be very difficult.

Pipeline can be even made through sea just like sea cable line so tl18twater can
be sold in future to neighbouring country.

As the path of the pipe line can be diverted to any place evacuation of people,
City or Town required for compensation can be minimized.

We need not build many bridges, as canal segregates the west and east
Southern India Fig- 5.

9. How the water from many rivers is easily utilized by many cultivating lands? Do
they have lower level than the river?

At the time of origin river on the earth must have selected a path which must have got a
slope on two sides just like 'V' shape so that all the rainwater and tributaries of river at the
side could reach the river. For its forward movement it must have selected a slope
like' ' so that natural gravity and water level could pull the river water to sea as
they have this type of slope. Water consumption for cultivating land is easily possible on
shown in Fig. 12.

Demerits of river linking by canals

1. It requires power for pumping in most of the places. Because canal from the
gangetic plain must cross the Deccan platue and many Ghats and hills. Fig. 2 & 8

2. It requires power for pumping. As per the law of thermo dynamics the power spent
will be greater than the power production, it means this always require electricity for
pumping. Power interruption may halt the river flow.

3. We do not know any thing about Soil Structure. In course of time the depth or width
of the river may increase because of soil erosion. Again the flow cannot be regulated
some times slow speed may cause deposition and form delta lands, there may be
need for removal of sediments.

4. Kerala and Karnataka cannot directly utilize this water as there are many barriers of
hills and slopes.
5. Control units at the river & river canal junction in very difficult as they have two
direction of flow. Fig. .9

6. A higher change in life 0f people, like boating, fishing, irrigation in unexpected area,
migration of birds & animals.

7. When the canals are left open to atmosphere, it may cool the air or increase the
moisture around the area causes changes in its weather.

8. When the direction of North & South canal is connected along with existing west to
east direction of rivers, geographically Southern India will be split into many Islands.
Fig. 5

9. The coastal state of AP & TN may have these benefits where as the western part
and middle part of the state cannot have the facility. Fig.4

10.The depth of the canal will vary place to place as there is necessary to maintain the
level of water. In certain places river depth may exceed 50-100 meters. In some
place you may need to lift the water level 5-10 m above the earth level. Fig.2

11.In future Ice from the Himalaya will produce more water because of global warming
this may discharge more cold water to Bay of Bengal and this will be distributed
throughout the Eastern coast and may effect the hot & cold sea water flow.

Merits of Dam linking by pipe lines

1. Since all the demerits of river linking canals are overcome by the pipeline it has
more advantages as it has some additional benefits.

2. Pipe line can be fitted at any site Kerala & Karnataka can have this facility.

3. Since all the dams are able to receive water in all the season production of electricity
is possible through out the year.

4. Production unit at the existing place is enough no need to install new plants. Need
not built new Dams, distribution channels and reforming of cultivable lands.

5. Whenever required it can be extended as the railway line, and can be made
manifold as per the requirement.
 (Updated)

MAINTENANCE

When we use pipeline with any material, material may have reactive surface or
inert surface, in those cases there will be the formation of Bio-film, or corrosion associated
product or deposition of inorganic chemicals. When we use it for very long period of time
this must be taken into consideration. The main advantage of using pipeline in this dam
networking will carry only fresh water (very low BOD, and pollutants form Biological and
non biological origin because all the dams water are usually highly pure than the river
water). Since the dams are in different altitudes the natural flushing mechanism by the
water pressure (exerted on its wall) will keep it clean. The other mean of manipulation also
possible such as

(1). Addition of high concentration of reactive chemicals into the pipeline (like
chlorination) and logging of pipeline some period of time for effective cleaning is
possible.
(2). Sonication and a remote sensing material can be used into the pipeline
for monitoring and cleaning by sonication.

PRESSURE MANAGEMENT

Pipe line passes through land can be submerged in the land by 1-2 m depth that
usually minimize the thickness of materials

Some of the existing mechanisms, which functions based on valve mechanism,

are explained here.

(1). Bore well compressors

(2). Automobile tyre inflater
(3). Hydraulic cranes
(4). Blood collection system from foot to the heart etc,
 In the first three (example) mechanism there is a very small size of motor which
pump either air or some fluid through a valve when there is no valve provision the
achievement of this great work done cannot be achieved. We know well that the pressure
difference between before and after the valve compartments are highly varies. Though
there is enormous pressure at the after valve compartment this usually not make much
influence on before valve compartment. Indirectly, the pressure can be reduced in flow
line by placing a valve. When pressure exert on the wall of the pipeline because of too
height, a series of valve can be placed. This mechanism is found in example No: 4.