State PCS - Haryana (HCS)

• 07 Jul 2025

Ganga Yamuna Link (GYL) Canal

Why in News? 

The Haryana government is actively exploring the construction of the Ganga Yamuna Link (GYL) canal to harness water from the Ganga River.

Key Points 

• Purpose of the Proposed Canal: 
  • The GYL canal is designed to meet the increasing demand for drinking water and irrigation in the National Capital Region (NCR). 
  • The Haryana government aims to complete the project by November 2031, subject to approval and coordination. 
  • Punjab’s continued refusal to complete the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, despite the Supreme Court backing Haryana's claim, is pushing the state to find new water alternatives. 
• Initial Support from Uttar Pradesh: 
  • During early discussions, the Uttar Pradesh government informally agreed to the proposal and suggested five potential routes to Haryana. 
  • These proposed channels include locations near Hindon Barrier in Khatauli, Badruddin Nagar, Muradnagar, and Yamunanagar to connect the Ganga’s flow with the Yamuna. 
• Parallel Water Infrastructure Projects: 
  • Alongside the GYL canal, Haryana is also working to tap rainwater upstream of Hathni Kund Barrage by constructing a dam. 
  • Additionally, work on the Keshau Dam project is progressing, as part of broader efforts to strengthen water security. 

River Ganga 

• It is the longest river of India flowing over 2,510 km of mountains, valleys and plains and is revered by Hindus as the most sacred river on earth. 
  • The Ganga basin outspreads India, Tibet (China), Nepal and Bangladesh over an area of 10,86,000 Sq.km. 
• In India, it covers states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Delhi draining an area of 8,61,452 Sq.km which is nearly 26% of the total geographical area of the country. 
  • It originates in the snowfields of the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas. 
• At its source, the river is called the Bhagirathi. It descends down the valley upto Devprayag where after joining another hill stream Alaknanda, it is called Ganga. 
• The principal tributaries joining the river from the right are the Yamuna and the Son. 
  • The Ramganga, the Ghaghra, the Gandak, the Kosi and the Mahananda join the river from left. The Chambal and the Betwa are the two other important sub- tributaries. 
• The Ganga River basin is one of the most fertile and densely populated areas of the world and covers an area of 1,000,000 sq. km. 
  • The Ganges River Dolphin is an endangered animal that specifically habitats this river. 
• The Ganga joins the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh and continues its run under the name Padma or Ganga. 
• The Ganga widens out into the Ganges Delta in the Sundarbans swamp of Bangladesh, before it ends its journey by emptying into the Bay of Bengal. 

Sutlej River

• Origin and Course:  
  • The Sutlej River is the longest of the five tributaries of the Indus River that give the Punjab region (meaning "Land of Five Rivers") its name. 
  • It originates from Lake La’nga on the northern slopes of the Himalayas in southwestern Tibet at an elevation of over 15,000 feet (4,600 metres). 
  • The river flows northwestward and then turns west-southwestward through deep Himalayan gorges into Himachal Pradesh. 
  • It enters the Punjab plains near Nangal, continues southwestward, receives the Beas River, and then forms a 65-mile (105-km) stretch of the India-Pakistan border before entering Pakistan. 
• Irrigation and Utilisation: 
  • It is heavily used for irrigation purposes in both India and Pakistan. 
  • Key irrigation projects include the Bhakra-Nangal Project, Sirhind Canal, and the Sutlej Valley Project. 
• Indus Waters Treaty and Water Sharing: 
  • The Sutlej River was a source of water-sharing tension between India and Pakistan until the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 resolved the issue. 
  • India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty until Pakistan ceases its support for cross-border terrorism.

Yamuna River 

 

• Origin and Course:  
  • The Yamuna River, one of northern India's major rivers, originates from the Bandarpunch massif in the Great Himalayas near Yamunotri in Uttarakhand. 
  • It flows southward through the Himalayan foothills and enters the Indo-Gangetic Plain, forming the border between Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. 
  • The Yamuna flows past several historically significant cities—Delhi, Mathura, Agra, Firozabad, and Etawah. 
  • At Prayagraj, it merges with the Ganga River forming the Triveni Sangam, a sacred Hindu confluence. 
• Religious Importance: 
  • The Yamuna is revered as one of the holiest rivers in Hinduism, second only to the Ganga. 
  • Its confluence with the Ganga at Prayagraj is the site of major religious festivals, including the Kumbh Mela, which draws millions of devotees every 12 years. 
  • Tributaries: 
    • The river receives important southern tributaries below Etawah, including the Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, and Ken rivers, enriching its flow and catchment area. 
• Pollution and Conservation Efforts: 
  • The Yamuna suffers from severe pollution, primarily from untreated sewage and industrial discharge. 
  • In the 1990s, the Yamuna Action Plan, supported by Japan, was launched to reduce pollution. While partially successful, challenges remain due to population growth and poor waste management.