Move to interlink dams in Marathwada

The Maharashtra government has decided to finalise the detailed project report for interlinking of dams to fight the perennial drought in Marathwada.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that dams would be interconnected with pipelines and water supply network would be created across the region. The plan, which has been under consideration for the last few years, will be implemented with the help of the newly formed Jalshakti Ministry at the Centre.

Marathwada water grid

“We are working to develop a Marathwada water grid. Five detailed project reports are ready and the work on the final one is on. We are going to connect all dams in Marathwada,” Fadnavis said in Aurgangabad recently. He added that the next generation in the drought-prone areas of the State would not face any water crisis.

Major dams, including Jayakwadi, Majalgaon, Lower Dudhna, Yeldari, Vishnupuri, Manjara, Mannar and Sidhdheshwar along with several medium and minor irrigation projects cater to the Marathwada region. Scanty rainfall in last few consecutive years has left many dams dry.

The creation of the Marathwada water grid was discussed at the special Cabinet meeting held in Aurangabad in 2016.

Surplus and deficit

The government is planning the water grid on the pattern of Gujarat or Telangana water grid projects. The government has noted that some of the dams in the region often have surplus water while many others dry up. As a result, some parts of the region face scarcity while water is available in some other parts of Marathwada.

“Therefore, it is felt that dams in Marathwada need to be interconnected,” the government document on water grid said.