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Maharashtra water grid and river linking drought mitigation projects

Source:Indian Express ↗

Why It Matters

Crucial for understanding Maharashtra's infrastructure planning, regional disparities in water resource distribution, and geographical river networks relevant to MPSC exams.

Summary

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has prioritized the revival of state-wide water grid and river-linking projects, focusing on drought mitigation in Marathwada and Vidarbha, optimizing surplus water transfer from Konkan, and resolving regional water disputes.

Key Points

  • Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has revived focus on comprehensive water grid and river linking projects to resolve chronic drought and regional water imbalances.
  • Key projects under consideration include the Marathwada Water Grid, the Nar-Par river linking project, and the Wainganga-Nalganga river linking project.
  • These initiatives aim to divert surplus water from west-flowing rivers in Konkan or surplus basins to water-scarce regions like Marathwada and Vidarbha.
  • The state government is also addressing inter-state and intra-state river water disputes to fast-track these infrastructure plans.

Static Concepts Connected

Maharashtra Geography & Irrigation

What are the key river-linking projects proposed or implemented in Maharashtra to address regional imbalances?

  • Nar-Par-Girna:: Nar-Par-Girna diverts surplus west-flowing water from the Sahyadri ranges toward the eastern rain-shadow districts like Nashik and Jalgaon.
  • Wainganga-Nalganga:: Wainganga-Nalganga lifts water from Gosikhurd dam on Wainganga river to supply western Vidarbha districts including Buldhana.
  • Damanganga-Godavari:: Damanganga-Godavari channels surplus coastal river water from the west-flowing basin into the Godavari river basin.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • River Linking and NWDA National Perspective Plan

    River linking proposals connect state irrigation management with the National Perspective Plan (NPP) under the National Water Development Agency (NWDA).

  • Water Security and Regional Economic Disparities

    Drought mitigation in Marathwada and Vidarbha directly impacts regional agrarian distress and farmers' suicide rates documented in economic surveys.

MPSC frequently tests specific dam-to-dam interconnections and river basins in Maharashtra geography matching river-linking schemes.

Linked PYQs · 2

Linked PYQs · 2

  • 2024MPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Which type of drainage pattern is found in Maharashtra ? (a) Dendritic (b) Parallel (c) Indefinite (d) Trellis Answer options :

  • 2025MPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Match the following. | River Confluence | Rivers | |---|---| | a. Prakashe | I. Tapi-Panzara | | b. Mudavad | II. Tapi-Gomati | | c. Mahuli | III. Bhima-Indrayani | | d. Tulapur | IV. Krishna-Venna | Code: a b c d