Godavari Basin plan recommends village water plans, dams for urban centres

* The plan assumes significance for Vidarbha as Godavari Basin covers all 11 districts 

* The plan points out projects ‘exceeding water availability’ in Nashik Division and Marathwada region, and hints at scope for taking up more projects in water surplus region of Vidarbha 

By Kartik Lokhande 

River pollution, sewage generated in urban centres, projects exceeding water availability in some areas, and untapped potential for projects in water surplus areas like Vidarbha are some of the issues that have been pointed out in the draft of Godavari Basin Integrated Water Plan, which has been floated for public consultations. 

The draft plan has been prepared after intense brain-storming over four-five years, assumes significance especially for Vidarbha as Godavari Basin covers all 11 districts of the region. In fact, the systematically and scientifically prepared draft plan makes certain recommendations that may gladden the hearts of those who have been raising voice in favour of development of Vidarbha region. After systematic study of availability of surface-water and groundwater, Godavari Basin Integrated Water Plan has revealed that there is ample scope for taking up new irrigation projects in Vidarbha region. 

Godavari Basin covers 49 per cent of the area of Maharashtra. It is divided into 30 sub-basins, covering all 11 districts of Vidarbha, eight districts of Marathwada, three of North Maharashtra, and Pune district (partially) in Western Maharashtra. Hence, it is an important report as far as water resources planning is concerned. The basin has 807 watershed areas with 1,52,588 sq kms area. There are several tributaries of Godavari including Pravara, Mula, Dudhna, Purna, Kayadhu, Sindfana, Manjra, Terna, Lendi, Manar, Sudha, Suvarna. However, most of these namely Penganga, Pus, Arunavati, Bembla, Wardha, Vena, Irai, Andhari, Nag, Kolar, Kanhan, Pench, Wainganga, Bagh, Gadhvi, Khobragadi, Pranhita, Indravati are in Vidarbha region. 

R B Shukla, Executive Director, Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC), told ‘The Hitavada’ that the draft plan was the outcome of intense brainstorming over four-five years. “It highlights shortfall of water, stresses upon improving intensity of irrigation, and has suggested some measures like compulsory drip irrigation, and granting no permission to new industry in water-stressed areas,” he said. Asked about significance of the draft plan for Vidarbha, Shukla said that it was beneficial to the region. Further, the draft plan envisages preparing village water plans and recommends independent water sources in the form of dams to meet the requirements for urban areas. 

Godavari Basin Integrated Water Plan has been prepared under the larger State Water Resources Plan. The objective is to envision long-term integrated development plan for surface water and groundwater, prioritisation of development of water resources, drawing up plans for short-term development, suggest measures to improve water quality, plan groundwater recharge and water conservation works etc. The draft plan covers water use for agricultural, drinking, cattle, industrial, and tourism purposes, and considers environmental aspects. Water required groundwater recharge, integrated watershed area development also have been taken into account. The plan is based on projections up to the year 2030. 

The two-volume report covers various aspects including general information about Godavari Basin and sub-basins, cultivable area, forest area, industrial area, geological composition, population, available surface water, groundwater development plan, water management plan, disaster management plan, future planning, projects completed in sub-basins, projects under construction, planned water use, etc. 

The plan has been submitted to State Water Board headed by Chief Secretary, and it has got in-principle approval. It will be placed before State Water Planning Council under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, after consultation with stakeholders. The interested may send their suggestions on feedback.godavari@gmail.com till September 16, 2015, Shukla appealed. The plan has been made available in soft copy on the portal https://wrd.maharashtra.gov.in of Water Resources Department. 

Plan recommends relook 

at inter-State agreements 

on irrigation projects 

The draft of Godavari Basin Integrated Water Plan has recommended to the Government to take a ‘re-look’ at inter-state water sharing agreements over irrigation projects. This a very important recommendation considering that neighbouring states have got more benefits than Maharashtra from some inter-state projects. In some cases, Maharashtra areas are in upper reaches and areas in neighbouring states are in lower ones. For instance, in case of Tapi Basin water sharing agreement, Gujarat has benefited more than Maharashtra. If the recommendation in the draft plan is considered, Maharashtra will have to initiate proceedings to take a re-look at inter-state agreements so that those could be revised. 

‘Ample scope for projects in Vidarbha’ 

The draft plan points out that though 71 per cent of the geographical area in Godavari Basin is cultivable, water projects in Nashik Division and Marathwada region have been proposed with plan to utilise water to the extent exceeding the availability. Hence, there is no scope for new projects. However, decentralised storages could be created there. 

At the same time, the plan states that there is ample scope for more projects in water surplus region of Vidarbha. In Vidarbha, some sub-basins have abundant to very abundant water availability. Besides, cultivable area is lesser due to vast forest area. “Hence, Vidarbha is suitable for water-intensive industries. Also, there is scope for hydro-electric projects. There are several sites to take up irrigation projects too,” stated the draft plan. 

There are 86 sugar factories in Maharashtra. Under the plan, it has been recommended not to encourage new sugar factories in Marathwada and North Maharashtra. Agriculture-based industries must be set up, it added. 

Plan proposes dams to meet 

water needs of urban centres 

Godavari Basin has 305 urban centres and many of these are drawing water for domestic use from canals or rivers. As a result, there are issues involving utilisation of water from irrigation projects for agricultural, industrial, or drinking purposes. 

Taking this into account and based on projections of water needs of urban areas till the year 2030, Godavari Basin Integrated Water Plan draft has recommended construction of dams as sources of water for urban habitations with population size of above 10,000. The proposal was discussed previously also, and in some cases, water from irrigation projects is being supplied to major urban centres. In some cases, proposals could not materialise as municipal corporations/councils do not have enough funds to construct dam. Against this backdrop, the recommendation is very significant as it will require policy decision backed by financial support from the Government to the urban local bodies. 

Another issue highlighted in the draft plan for Godavari Basin is that there is massive wastage of water as the supply is not metered. “Metered consumption needs to be increased,” it has recommended. 

‘Reduce river pollution, 

treat sewage for reuse’ 

Attracting the attention towards pollution of rivers in the State, the draft plan for Godavari Basin has recommended strongly measures to curb river pollution. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) should prepare water quality control plan and implement it effectively, it has stated. 

CGWB and Water Resources Department check water quality at 343 surface points and 1,742 groundwater points across the State. Recommending an increase in the number in a phased manner, the draft plan has stressed upon the need to treat non-irrigation sewage also, to prevent river-water pollution. Godavari Basin has 991 km long riverline that is polluted. Of this, 138 km is in Upper Godavari, 250 km in Central Godavari, 250 km in Penganga, 158 km in Wardha sub-basin. Urban waste, industrial sewage, rampant use of chemical fertilizers are main causes of river pollution. Measures are needed to reduce pollution of Godavari river, it has stressed. 

At present, areas in Godavari Basin generate 532.60 MM3 of domestic sewage and 435.4 MM3 industrial sewage. This needs to be treated and reused, the draft plan recommends. 

The draft plan also deals with flood-prone areas in Godavari Basin. As per the report, 305 cities and 3,091 villages in the basin are flood-prone. The plan states, “Relief and Rehabilitation Department must conduct a survey of all these and prepare a permanent plan to tackle issues there. Local bodies and Gram Panchayats should draw ‘flood line’ and revisit the plan every five years, to prevent encroachments in river-beds.” 

(29-08-15)