Bending the rivers to facilitate farming

Bending the rivers to facilitate farming
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NASHIK, OCT 25: In an ambitious move to provide more water for agriculture, the Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation has undertaken a survey aimed at changing the course of some rivers and tributaries in the north Maharashtra region.

According to the project, the water of Naar, Paar, Damanganga, Ulhas and Vaitarna rivers flowing westwards into the Arabian sea would be diverted into the Godavari and Tapi valleys. At a meeting held in Nashik, corporation officials stated that the state government had accepted the idea "in principle".

The corporation has identified 27 bends in the river valleys: 11 in the Naar and Paar valley; 11 in the Damanganga valley and 5 in the Vaitarna valley. The whole project is estimated to cost around Rs 101 crore and the water availability is estimated to increase by 4,990 million cubic feet (MCFT).

Accordingly, about 4,371 mcft of water diverted through eight bends in the Naar and Paar rivers, 11 bends in the Damanganga river and three bends in the Vaitarna river, would flow into the Godavari river. Besides, about 457 mcft of water from two bends in the Vaitarna valley would flow into the Pravara river and about 161 mcft of water from three bends in the Naar and Paar would flow into the Girna river.

Officials have begun the survey of 15 schemes : three sites (Devsane, Chafyacha Raan-Shindicha Pada and Hattipada) in the Paar valley; ten sites in the Damanganga river; and two in the Vaitarna valley. Survey has been completed and plans and estimates of nine schemes are being scrutinised. The schemes comprise: three in the Naar valley, five in the Paar valley and one in the Damanganga valley. Plans for diverting water of Shahi (a tributary of Ulhas river) into Pravara valley and later into Godavari river) have been submitted to the government for approval. Maps pertaining to five schemes in Dindori tehsil of Nashik district have been prepared.

As per the schemes, diversion of water at Golshi, Chimanpada, Chillarpada,Palasvihir and Dhondalpada would enhance the availability of water by 290 mcft in the Godavari river. From the Vaitarna valley, bends have been suggested at Pengalwadi (Trimbakeshwar), Katarwadi and Vaitarna Sadal (Igatpuri) to divert water into the Godavari river and at Hivra and Samarad (Akola in Ahmednagar district) to divert water into the Pravara river.

A study of the impact of the project on the water supply from Vaitarna to Mumbai is also being undertaken. According to officials the diversion of tributaries and rivers would be less expensive that regular irrigation schemes. They have pointed out that the expenditure for diverting water is Rs 3.22 lakh per mcft as compared to regular irrigation schemes which cost about Rs 4.84 lakh per mcft.