In the past decade or so, utilisation of water from irrigation projects in Maharashtra has attracted attention due to clash between rural and urban segments of population. The clashes may intensify in future as non-irrigation utilisation of water from irrigation projects is on the rise.

 

 

The latest Water Audit report published by Water Resources Department (WRD) in March earlier this year, has pointed out that water availability in river sub-basins in Maharashtra is likely to ‘suffer more in near future considering continuous increase in non-irrigation water use’. The major reasons behind increase in non-irrigation use of water from irrigation projects are two -- growth in population, and industrialisation.

 

 

WRD publishes Water Audit report after consolidating and analysing the water accounts of 64 major, 254 medium, and 2,186 minor irrigation projects. These projects are in various plan groups viz. Highly Deficit (water availability below 1,500 Cubic Metre/Hectare), Deficit (water availability between 1,501 ad 3,000 Cum/Ha), Normal (3,001-8,000 Cum/Ha), Surplus (8,001-12,000 Cum/Ha), and Abundant (water availability above 12,000 Cum/Ha). Of a total 3.08 lakh sq km of geographical area, Maharashtra has cultivable area of 225 lakh hectare. The cultivable area is divided into five major river basins -- Godavari, Krishna, Tapi, Narmada, and westward flowing rivers comprising a basin group of 25 narrow sub-basins. Besides, there is a small area of Mahanadi basin in Gadchiroli district of Vidarbha region. The five river basins have been further divided into 25 distinct sub-basins.

 

 

Of these sub-basins, nine in Highly Deficit and Deficit groups are likely to suffer more due to continuous increase in non-irrigation water use. These nine sub-basins are as follows: Lower Godavari, Purna Dudhna, Manjra, Purna (Tapi), Girna, Middle Tapi (South) from Deficit group, and Upper Krishna (East), Sina- Bori Benetura, part of Bhima including Man from Highly Deficit group. Much of the area of Vidarbha region is covered under Godavari-Sudha-Swarna, Painganga, Wardha, Middle Wainganga, Lower Wainganga, Purna (Tapi), and Middle Tapi (Satpuda) sub-

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