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)