‘Marathwada schemes not feasible’

AURANGABAD: At least two projects announced for drought-prone Marathwada — of diverting 23 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) water from Krishna basin to Marathwada

AURANGABAD: At least two projects announced for drought-prone Marathwada — of diverting 23 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) water from Krishna basin to Marathwada and the second, making the region water sufficient through a water grid — may only stay on paper with experts and officials calling these promises too difficult to be fulfilled.

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The plan to divert 23 TMC water from Krishna basin to Marathwada has been unrealised for years, while the water grid announced for the area is too ambitious, say experts.

The government on Tuesday announced a package of Rs49,248 crore for eight districts of Marathwada region . The government was expected to spend around Rs1,200 crore a year on the Krishna-Marathwada scheme. Villages in Beed and Osmanabad districts were expected to get 7 TMC water under the scheme from Ujjani dam. Of the 23 TMC water agreed to be allocated to Marathwada from Krishna basin, a dispute over 16 TMC was pending before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal.

“The government has already spent about Rs500 crore on the project, but has failed to divert a single drop to the region. A total of 16 TMC is subject to the tribunal ruling . I think we are spending too much to fetch water from far away,” said Pradeep Purandare, former professor at Water and Land Management Institute.

The state also announced a water grid worth Rs13,000 for channelised distribution of water.

The project was to provide a sustainable and permanent solution to the drinking water woes through tapped water supply to all households. It means the entire water supply system will be connected through closed pipe lines instead of the current open water canal system.

A retired official from the water conservation department of Aurangabad division said, “The water grid is based on similar implementation in Gujarat and Telangana. But it could not be feasible here. We need to tap smaller resources at local level than implementing such grids for a huge amount. The maintenance of the scheme and the huge expenditure on its implementation may make the grid infeasible,” he said The officer said the land acquisition and the fund constraints will also pose challenges in implementing the project.

Agriculture expert and former member of state planning board HM Desarada said the government now needs to bring a paradigm shift in its approach.

“The pending irrigation projects re-approved by the government have been beneficial only to the contractors and corrupt officials as well as politicians in the past. The government should instead push for smaller watershed management initiatives rather than going for the cost-intensive water grid,” he said.

Umakant Dangat, divisional commissioner, Aurangabad, said, “It is true the irrigation projects are delayed, but after the cabinet push, these will be on the track. I don’t think there would be resistance against diverting water from Krishna basin as it is Marathwada’s rightful share and the permission for drawing water has been given long back.”