Experts question water availability for Marathwada irrigation project

AURANGABAD: Even if the state government has announced financial boost to Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project, a section of water experts continue to have doubts over the multi-crore scheme, raising serious questions about the availability of water.
A associate coordinator with South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) Parineeta Dandekar, accused the state government for failing to share water availability certificates and details about possible water sources for Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project despite repeated requests.
"We sought information under RTI Act, but we did not recieve any official response. There is no official word on the availability of water for Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project, which in itself is a big setback for the scheme," she said.
While Ujjani major irrigation project could serve as a source of water for Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project, water management expert Pradeep Purandare questioned the rationale behind such a proposal, considering the traditionally poor storage in dams located in Solapur district unless exceptionally good rain conditions.
"The Ujjani project, for the first time in the last few years, has 100% storage owing to the incessant rainfall in the past few months. While people from command areas of Ujjani dam have been up in arms against Pune and nearby areas for allegedly blocking their share of water, it remains to be seen if they will allow release of water for Marathwada," he said.
Ujjani dam, which has a storage capacity of 117.23 TMC, including dead storage of 63.66 TMC, had only 13.24% live storage during mid-October 2015. Around 7 TMC water is expected to be diverted from the Basin of Krishna River for supply to Osmanabad and Beed districts using Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project.
It may be noted that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Madhav Chitale, had shared negative remarks about the Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project in its official report. Referring to Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal's (KWDT) decision prohibiting inter-basin diversion of water, the SIT had stated that the very decision has jeopardised the Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project.
Observing that the Krishna Marathwada irrigation project cost Rs 417.62 crore till March 2012 in contrast to the Krishna Bhima stabilisation scheme amounted to much lesser, the SIT had stated that there were irregularities in the planning stage itself.
Speaking with ToI, Chitale said he was unaware about the conditions that were set before giving a green signal to the Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project.
The feasibility of the projects needs to be checked if it is getting commissioned. If it is meant for fetching drinking water, the government should validate the expenditure likely to be incurred. Same should be the criterion for drawing water for agricultural purpose, as spending required on electricity among other things will be high, he said, favouring the project if it fulfils drinking water needs.
Anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania, who has been against the commissioning of Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project, however, expressed surprise over Chitale's alleged change in stand.
"During the Congress-NCP government, he (Chitale) had criticised the project and now, suddenly he is supporting it for drinking purposes. This change in stand is surprising and sounds pro-BJP," she said.
Terming the proposed spending on Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project as criminal waste of money, Damania, a former AAP leader, accused the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for clearing the project under public pressure.
While the state cabinet, during its October 4 meet held at Aurangabad, allocated Rs 4,817 crore for speedy completion of the project, the chief minister during his Marathwada tour early this week also backed the project by saying that his government was committed to help the district. Around 288 villages from Osmanabad and Beed districts will be relieved from water scarcity if the project sees light of the day, besides irrigating nearly 33,945 hectare of agricultural land from these districts.
While then Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar during his Marathwada tour in August last year had publically announced offering necessary clearances to Krishna-Marathwada irrigation.
SANDRP has also alleged that certain components of the project still do not have mandatory green clearances from the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF).
Senior officials from Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC) refused to get drawn into controversy. "The state Cabinet has given clearance to the project after weighing all pros and cons and also set deadline of four years to complete the project," an official said, preferring anonymity.
State water resources minister Girish Mahajan could not be reached for his comments.