Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project
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Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project

Syllabus

GS 1: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)

Context:

Recently, the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly implement the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project. 

More on the News

  • The agreement was finalised following a meeting of the Madhya Pradesh–Maharashtra Inter-State Control Board held in Bhopal.
  • This project is the third such initiative undertaken by the Madhya Pradesh government in the past year, following the Ken–Betwa link with Uttar Pradesh and the Parvati–Kalisindh–Chambal project with Rajasthan.
  • The project is considered as the world’s largest groundwater recharge project.

 Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project

  • Under the project MP Government will develop three streams of the Tapti river, in collaboration with the Maharashtra government for irrigation in across both the states. 
  • The Project aims to divert water from the Tapti River to address drinking water needs and enhance irrigation facilities in northeastern parts of Maharashtra, including Nagpur. 
  • It aims to provide irrigation support to southern and southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh such as Burhanpur and Khandwa.
  • Irrigation & Land Benefit:
    Total land to benefit: 5.78 lakh acres
    Madhya Pradesh: Permanent irrigation for 1,23,082 hectares
    Maharashtra: Permanent irrigation for 2,34,706 hectares
    Total planned Water Allocation & utilisation: 31.13 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet)
  1. Madhya Pradesh: 11.76 TMC
  2. Maharashtra: 19.36 TMC
  • Land Use & Rehabilitation:
    Total land required in Madhya Pradesh: 3,362 hectares
    Displacement/Rehabilitation: No displacement of villages; no rehabilitation required
  • Beneficiary Districts:
    Maharashtra: Jalgaon, Akola, Buldhana, Amravati
    Madhya Pradesh: Burhanpur, Khandwa
  • Financial Aspects:
    Central Government Contribution: Expected to fund 90% of the project cost
    Consultations planned with the Union Government to designate it as a National Water Project 

Role of project in groundwater recharge: 

  • Using a network of canals and weirs constructed under the project, a line running parallel to the Tapti river would receive water, thereby recharging groundwater in the region. 
  • The line along the Tapti Valley, where the recharge is to take place, is a bajada zone, or a gently sloped depositional plane found in arid or semi-arid areas formed by flow of streams. 
  • The exploitation of this natural feature is central to the recharging initiative.

Key features of the Tapti River: 

  • Origin: Near Betul, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Flow: Westward, to the Arabian Sea.
  • Basin: The Tapi Basin is second-largest westward-draining basin.
  • Length: 724 km.
  • Area: The basin covers 65,145 km².
  • States: The river passes through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
  • Tributaries: Important tributaries include the Purna, Vaghur, Girna, Bori, and Panjhra on the left bank, and the Gomai, Arunavati, Aner and Suki on the right bank.
  • Major Dams: Ukai Dam and Kakarapar weir are located on the Tapi River. 
  • States Covered:
    Maharashtra (northeastern regions including Nagpur)
    Madhya Pradesh (southern and southeastern districts including Burhanpur and Khandwa)

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