MAINS Current Affairs includes India’s Net-Zero Pathway: Ambition, Investment and Reform & Protest Against Ken–Betwa Linking Project

Environment

1. India’s Net-Zero Pathway: Ambition, Investment and Reform

Context

According to NITI Aayog in its report Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero, India can simultaneously achieve developed-economy status by 2047 and attain net-zero emissions by 2070. However, this transformation demands extensive financial mobilisation and structural reforms across sectors.

Understanding Net Zero

Net zero refers to a condition where total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are balanced by equivalent removals within a specified timeframe.

It requires:

Emission Reduction

• Transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy
• Improvements in energy efficiency
• Electrification of transport and industry
• Adoption of low-carbon technologies

Emission Removal

• Enhancement of natural sinks such as forests and soils
• Deployment of technological solutions like carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)
• The approach targets all major GHGs and calls for economy-wide decarbonisation. 

Importance of Net Zero

• Essential to restrict global temperature rise to 5–2°C, as envisaged under the Paris Agreement.
• Reduces risks of climate extremes, sea-level rise and biodiversity loss.
• Promotes clean technology innovation and sustainable economic growth.

Key Concerns Highlighted

Financing Gap

• Total investment required: $22.7 trillion by 2070.
• Funding shortfall: $6.53 trillion, even after domestic efforts.
• Heavy reliance on international climate finance introduces uncertainty.

Inadequate Current Investment

• Present annual climate investment (~$135 billion) falls short of long-term needs.
• Clean energy funding lags behind projected demand growth.

Power Sector Risks

• Renewable capacity must expand to 6,500–7,000 GW.
• Grid stability, storage, and transmission infrastructure pose challenges.
• Continued coal use for energy security complicates decarbonisation.

Growing Energy Demand

• Rapid expansion in cooling, industry and data centres may offset efficiency gains.
• Cooling demand is emerging as a major contributor to residential electricity use.

Industrial Technology Uncertainty

• Hard-to-abate sectors rely on green hydrogen and CCUS, which remain expensive and underdeveloped.

Critical Mineral Dependence

• Transition increases reliance on lithium, copper and nickel.
• Import dependency and supply-chain concentration create vulnerabilities.

Financial System Limitations

• Shallow corporate bond markets and limited financialisation of savings restrict capital availability.
• Absence of a dedicated green finance institution hampers coordinated funding.

Policy & Governance Challenges

• Long-term consistency, inter-sector coordination and effective enforcement are crucial.
• Delays in reform could escalate costs.

Major Recommendations

National Green Finance Institution

• Establish a specialised body to mobilise and de-risk large-scale climate investments and attract global capital.

Mobilise Global Climate Finance

• Developed nations should bridge the $6.53 trillion gap, while India deepens integration with global financial markets.

Strengthen Domestic Financial Markets

• Expand corporate bond market share to ~30% of GDP by 2070.
• Increase financialisation of household savings to 75%.

Accelerate Renewable Energy

• Scale solar and wind capacity to 6,500–7,000 GW.
• Invest in storage solutions like batteries and pumped hydro.

Promote Electrification

• Make electrification central to decarbonisation.
• Aim for over 70% electrification in road transport.

Demand-Side Management

• Tighten appliance efficiency norms and building codes.
• Encourage behavioural change to manage cooling demand.

Industrial Decarbonisation

• Enhance efficiency and circular economy practices.
• Fast-track adoption of green hydrogen and CCUS.

Critical Mineral Security

• Expand domestic exploration and recycling.
• Diversify import sources.

Energy Security During Transition

• Use coal as a bridging fuel while scaling renewables and nuclear energy.

Conclusion

NITI Aayog’s assessment indicates that India’s net-zero target is feasible but contingent upon bold domestic reforms and substantial international financial support. Coordinated action across finance, energy, industry and global partnerships will be crucial to align climate ambition with long-term economic development.

Geography

2. Protest Against Ken–Betwa Linking Project

Context

Recent protests against the Ken–Betwa River Linking Project (KBLP) have brought renewed attention to the environmental, social, and federal challenges associated with large-scale river interlinking initiatives.

River Interlinking in India: Background

The idea of linking rivers dates back to the 19th century when Sir Arthur Cotton proposed irrigation structures in the Godavari and Krishna basins. Over time, the concept was further developed by engineers such as M. Visvesvaraya, K.L. Rao, and Captain Dinshaw J. Dastur.

The formal Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) Programme was introduced under the National Perspective Plan (1980). Its objective is to transfer water from surplus to deficit basins to correct regional imbalances, expand irrigation, manage floods and droughts, and promote hydropower and inland navigation.

The National Perspective Plan consists of:

• Himalayan Component (14 links)
• Peninsular Component (16 links)

The Ken–Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first ILR project under implementation. Other links such as Parbati–Kalisindh–Chambal are under appraisal.

In 2002, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union Government to expedite the river interlinking programme, leading to the creation of a Task Force involving experts and scientists.

Policy Context

• The Hashim Commission Report (2004–05) identified surplus and deficit river basins and possible transfer points.
• The National Water Policy (2012) recognised water as an economic resource, promoting conservation and optimal utilisation.

Objectives of River Interlinking

• Expansion of irrigation in water-scarce regions
• Improved drinking water availability
• Flood control through diversion of excess monsoon flows
• Drought mitigation in semi-arid zones
• Hydropower generation
• Support for inland navigation and fisheries

Ken–Betwa Link Project (KBLP)

KBLP aims to address water scarcity in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Projected benefits include:

• Irrigation for 62 lakh hectares
• Drinking water supply for 62 lakh people
• Generation of 130 MW of hydropower

The project has received Cabinet approval and is estimated to cost around ₹45,000 crore.

Challenges and Concerns

Ecological Impact

• Altering natural river flows may disrupt aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. The project involves a dam within the Panna Tiger Reserve, raising concerns about habitat submergence and wildlife displacement.

Financial Burden

• High capital and maintenance costs raise questions about long-term economic feasibility.

Inter-State Federal Issues

• Water falls under the State List (List II, Seventh Schedule), while the Centre regulates inter-state rivers under List I. This overlapping jurisdiction can generate disputes.

Displacement and Social Costs

• Large reservoirs and canal systems often require relocation of local communities, creating livelihood and rehabilitation challenges.

Climate Change Risks

• River alterations may intensify flood and drought vulnerabilities under changing climate patterns.

Deforestation and Habitat Loss

• Construction activities involve large-scale tree felling, contributing to soil degradation and biodiversity loss.

Water Quality Concerns

• Intermixing waters from different basins could alter chemical composition and spread pollutants.

Conclusion and Way Forward

River interlinking represents one of the most ambitious water management visions in the world, rooted in developmental planning. However, contemporary scrutiny highlights ecological sensitivity, climate uncertainty, fiscal viability, and federal coordination challenges.

Moving forward requires robust environmental safeguards, transparent hydrological assessments, cooperative federalism, decentralised water management strategies, and integration of long-term climate projections to ensure sustainable outcomes.

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