India eyes intra-state linking of rivers to combat drought and floods

India's water crisis is a tale of extremes—while some regions battle floods, others face parching droughts.

- Puja Das

In a move to address this imbalance, the Centre is expanding its water management strategy by complementing inter-state river-linking with a localized intra-state model. The aim: channel surplus water to drought-prone regions and tackle water scarcity at its roots, two government officials said.

The urgency is stark. Over 60% of India's 800 districts are classified as high climate risk zones, vulnerable to floods and droughts—two of the country's most frequent and devastating natural disasters. A December report by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati reveals that more than 85% of these high-risk districts are concentrated in 13 states, including Bihar, Assam and Karnataka, underscoring the scale of the challenge.