Consultant, Water Resources
Online published on 19 July, 2016.
The Godavari Basin is the 2nd largest river basin in India. The basin spreads over the stretch of 3,12,813 sq. km of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra and Karnataka, it accounts for nearly 10% of the geographical area of the country.
It is envisaged to construct several, major irrigation and multipurpose projects on River Godavari and its tributaries viz. Paranthia, Indravati and Sabari to harness the abundant water resources potential of the basin. These tributaries contribute huge amount of flow in Godavari in its lower reaches. CWC has assessed total Water availability in Godavari Basin as 110.54 Thousand MCM per annum out of which 76.3 Thousand MCM (69%) forms utilizable surface water and 45.0 Thousand MCM replanishable Ground Water. Brief review of water availability studies is placed at Annexure-I
The variation in the rainfall over vast geographical area of Godavari Basin and its occurrence of about 90% during monsoon season without any interceptions ultimately drains it in to the Bay of Bengal. As a result the lower reaches of Godavari are severely affected due to huge uncontrolled floods during rainy season. While during non monsoon periods plains of Maharashtra (Marathwara) are suffering from frequent droughts. Both these extreme conditions make life of the people miserable as well as resulting in huge wastage of valuable water resources of the basin.
Allocation of utilizable water to the tune of 1178 TMC has been made among beneficiary states on the basis of various agreements drawn between, Andhra (including present Telangana) Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh (including present Chhattisgarh). The development of these water resources projects in the state of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra, comprising major part of the basin have been stalled since last 30 years due to lack of coordinated approach involving various interstate issues.
Attempt has been made to identify the key projects to form a complex of projects in Godavari basin viz. Bodhghat HEP, Bhopalpatnam HEP, Inchampalli and Polavaram multipurpose projects. It may be seen that if the integrated approach may be adopted to resolve the various challenges by beneficiary states (viz. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh) by sharing the costs and benefits in judicious manner among them, it is possible to construct these projects on fast track basis.
The learning from the similar approach adopted for implementation of Narmada Sagar Complex viz. Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar HEP and Sardar Sarovar Project (Gujarat) may be followed to resolve various challenges which are common and usually come across while implementation of such major water resources projects.
The implementation of Godavari Project Complex on fast track basis will greatly help in harnessing the renewal water resources potential of the basin and it will also trigger the growth of the downstream HEPs in Chhatisgarh.
The hydro-power generation by these projects will improve the hydro-thermal mix of the Western Grid which is at the level of 21: 79 at present. This ratio is further reducing due to coming-up of more and more thermal power plants in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh being setup by State run Power Generation Companies and Private Developers.
The total storage capacity of the above four major reservoirs shall be to the tune of 19,803 MCM. These reservoirs will effectively control the floods in middle and lower Godavari reaches. This will also ensure availability of sufficient water during lean seasons for the drought-prone areas of Marathwara, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and other adjoining regions.
The present status and issues involved in implementation of the Godavari Basin complex Projects have been discussed in the present paper and it is proposed to take-up these four projects by active intervention of Central Government in terms of bringing beneficiary states on the common platform, allocating costs and benefits on equitable and just manner among them with consensus.
Central Government shall play a pivotal role in implementation of these projects by declaring them as National Projects to ensure implementation on fast track basis. This may require setting-up of an Apex Committee exercising the provisions of the “River Boards Act of 1956” to study, identify interstate issues, working out Cost-Benefit ratio as complex of projects and sharing of costs and benefits in just and equitable manner to pave the way for mobilization of funds and resources, monitoring and resolving Environment, Land Acquisition, PAP's, Environment Impact Assessment. This integrated approach will ensure speedy completion of these Projects and harness the so far unutilized renewal water resources potential of Godavari basin.
It is worth while to remember that such ideal reservoir sites available in Godavari Basin are bestowed by the nature to the mankind as such shall be utilized in the best national interest.
