Year Proposed          expenditure

 

  2019-20                     Rs 586 cr

  2020-21                     Rs 575 cr

  2021-22                     Rs 574 cr

  2022-23                     Rs 574 cr

  2023-24                     Rs 554 cr

 

        Total                       Rs 2,864 cr

 

IN a major move towards resolving the water crisis caused due to construction of Chourai dam on Pench river in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra Cabinet gave nod to a proposal for Kanhan diversion project. As per the project, estimated cost of which is Rs 2,864 crore, 10 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) water from Kanhan river will be diverted to Totladoh reservoir on Pench river.

 

 

The decision was taken following the demand of farmers from Nagpur and Bhandara districts and also Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Due to construction of Chourai dam, the yield in Totladoh reservoir reduced drastically. This affected the water availability for irrigation purposes, as well as for quenching the drinking water need of the city of Nagpur. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Guardian Minister of Nagpur district, and MLAs from Nagpur and Bhandara districts had raised the issue in meetings with Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister; and Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister. They had also urged Fadnavis and Gadkari to find a solution in the larger interest of the farmers and people of Nagpur city.

 

 

As per the estimates, due to construction of Chourai dam, water availability in Totladoh reservoir reduced by 614 million cubic metres (MM3). In accordance with inter-State water use agreement dating back to the year 1964, Maharashtra should have got 1,840 MM3 water in past 40 years. However, Maharashtra got only 1,294 MM3 water. In terms of TMC, Maharashtra got 42.7 TMC previously. But, since construction of Chourai dam, water availability in Totladoh reservoir reduced to only 27 TMC. Considering the situation, a committee was constituted to examine the case in 2016.

 

 

Following the report of the committee, the Chief Minister had directed Water Resources Department to chalk out short-term and long-term plans. After completion of works proposed in long-term plan, 118 MM3 additional water will be available. Still, as per the population growth projections till the year 2025, water demand for Nagpur city also will increase to 250-300 MM3. Hence, the proposal for long-pending Jamghat irrigation project was explored. But, it was found to be ‘not feasible’ owing to cost involved in acquisition of forest land. Finally, it was decided to construct a diversion barrage near village Lohghogari and then divert the water through a tunnel from Kanhan river to Totladoh reservoir.