# I. Introduction aharashtra is the second highest populated, third largest in area and the second most industrialized state in India. The state of Maharashtra came into existence on 1 st May 1960. The Geographical location of the Maharashtra is bounded between latitude 16.4 0 to 22.1 0 N and longitude 72.6 0 to 80.9 0 E. As per 2011 census, the total population of Maharashtra is 112.37 Million, which is 9.29% of the India's population (1210.19 Million). The State has the geographical area of 0.307 Million Sq. Km., which is about 9.4 per cent of the total area of India. The average rainfall of the State is approximately 1360 mm. The maximum rainfall, about 88 per cent occurs in four months between June to September, about 8 per cent between October to December and remaining 4 per cent after December. Further, rainfall is ranging from 400 mm to 6000 mm in different parts of the State. It is revealed from this, that there is significant variation in rainfall distribution and its occurrence. The State witnesses frequent drought conditions. Almost 42.5% area of the State is drought prone. Water is a prime natural resource, used for multiple uses as domestic, irrigation, industry, power generation, navigation etc. Water is fundamental resource to life, livelihood, food security and sustainable development. Water which was once considered as abundant has now become a scarce & economic resource. Water should be used in judicial and integrated manner to maximize economic and social welfare. The distribution of water resources is uneven over a large part of the State. Such area is therefore, water deficit whereas a small part is bestowed with abundance in water. The State Water Policy formulated by the Government of Maharashtra in year 2003 envisages that, the water resources of the State shall be planned, developed & managed with a river basin and sub-basin as the unit. This policy states that, the distress in water availability during deficit period shall be shared equitably amongst different sectors of water use and also amongst upstream and downstream users. # II. Water Resources in Maharashtra Total water resource on earth is estimated to be about 1400 million cubic Km, which is 0.25% of the planet's mass and if spread evenly over its surface, it would cover the planet to a height of 2.7 Km. But more than 97% is in the form of oceans and seas, 2% is locked in ice-caps and glaciers and a large portion of remaining 1% lies far too deep in the ground to exploit. Thus only 0.2 million cubic km is fresh water in rivers, lakes, swamps, reservoirs and 23.4 million cubic km is ground water which is mostly saline. India is second largest populated country in the world, having 16% of the world's population with just 4% of water resources. The main source of water is annual precipitation including snow fall, has been estimated to be of the order of 4000 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM). More than half of that, returns to atmosphere by evaporation and seepage in to the ground. The balance water resource, which occurs as natural run off in the rivers is estimated to 1869 BCM, considering both surface and ground water. # a) Surface Water Allocated by the Tribunal There are different # III. Water Potential in Marathwada The sub basin wise surface and ground water potential available in Marathwada is given below. # a) Surface Water Potential in Marathwada The yield calculated for various dependability, is the surface water available on the ground in the number of sub basins. The yield at 75% dependability is generally considered for the design of the projects. But, whole quantity of surface water available cannot be Year 2022 ( ) The most effective ways to increase the irrigation potential for increasing the food grain production, mitigate floods and droughts and reduce regional imbalance in the availability of water is considered to be the inter-linking of the rivers to transfer water from the surplus rivers to deficit areas. The criteria for the classification of the basin or sub basin is decided as per the guide lines given in the Report of Maharashtra Water and Irrigation Commission (1999) as given below. In almost all the basins, expect WFR basin in the State, planning of the available water is completed. Some basin and sub-basin are facing the problems of shortage of water due to lesser availability of natural or allotted water, as well as increase in demand both for irrigation and non-irrigation purposes. Whereas some basins e.g. WFR basin in the State have surplus water. In order to meet the demand of deficit basins, intra state water transfer schemes similar on the line of interstate water transfer schemes are porposed. Those schemes include inter basin transfer as well as intra basin water transfer (Inter sub basin) within the State. The details of planning for Transfer of water from surplus sub-basins to deficit sub-basins in the State are given in the Thus the total use of 230 TMC of water will be done from WFR basin out of total available water of 440 TMC in northest Konkan up to Ulhas sub basin. # VI. Way Forward While studying the water resources development and management in the State the quantity of basin-wise water available is calculated by considering 75% dependable yield, the sub-basin wise catchment area and the respective run-off. As the rivers are flowing Inter-States (except WFR) the water allotted by the Tribunals is considered for utilizing in the respective basins of the State. The surface water is proposed to be used for developing irrigation potential and for Non Irrigation use like domestic and industrial purposes. As per the guidelines for sectoral water use, prescribed by the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) about 25% storage of dams is proposed for N.I. use and rest of storage is used for developing irrigation potential in the command area of the project. Similarly the inter basin river linking proposals in Maharashtra State are in advance stage of planning for transfer of surplus water from the West Flowing Rivers (WFR) of Konkan Basin to Godavari Basin, Krishna Basin and Tapi Basin. The State has finalized the Integrated State Water Plan (ISWP), and the guidelines for transfer of water from surplus sub basins to deficit sub basins are also given very clearly. Accordingly the sub basin-wise planning is done for all six basins in the State. 1500![Cum per Ha of cultivable area -Highly deficit 1500 to 3000 Cum per Ha of cultivable area -Deficit 3000 to 8000 Cum per Ha of cultivable area -Normal 8000 to 12000 Cum per Ha of cultivable area -Surplus Above 12000 Cum per Ha of cultivable area -Abundant](image-2.png "Below 1500") ![3297 MCum (116 TMC):-Inter basin transfer of water for Marathwada under Godavari deficit sub basins. 850 MCum (30 TMC):-Inter basin transfer of water for recoupment of Jaykwadi dam storage. 890 MCum (32 TMC):-Inter basin transfer of water for deficit area of Krishna basin. 463 Mcum (16 TMC):-Inter basin transfer of water for deficit Girna sub basin of Tapi basin. 650 Mcum (230 TMC):-Total use proposed from Surplus water of Konkan Basin for Deficit basins as shown above.](image-3.png "") No3b) Ground Water Availability in Maharashtraimmediate availability of surface-water sources, a largeGroundwater is one of the most importantpopulation depends upon groundwater. It is equallynatural resources on the earth. It plays important role inimportant in a river basin management. It has been themaintenance of economy, environment and standard ofprimary source of water supply for domestic, agricultureliving of any society in the state. In absence ofand industrial purposes.Table No. 2: Details of Ground Water Available in Maharashtra(Figure in Col. No. 5 to 6 in Mcum)Source: Integrated State Water plan for Maharashtra (2018), Water Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra, Vol.-I PageNo. 148,180Groundwater Surveys & Development Agency(GSDA) and CGWB have carried out the GroundwaterAssessment, in the Year 2011-12, watershed-wiserecharge, and annual gross groundwater draft andSr. No. (1) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 groundwater availability. Source: Integrated State Water plan for Maharashtra (2018), Water Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra, Vol.-I Page Basin Avail. Water in Mcum Allocated by Water Allocated in Mcum(a)/ TMC(b) (By Tribunal/Committee/Agreement) Water Allocation Mcum (TMC) Total Water with Regeneration (2) (3) (4) 5(a) 5(b) 6(a) 6(b) Godavari 38607 GWDT 29023 1024.93 29023 1024.93 Krishna 29300 KWDT-I 15854 560 16562 585 KWDT-II 18855 666 18855 666 Tapi 7027 Iyyengar Committee 5420 and Ukai Dam-141.6 5561 196.40* (191.4+5) 5995 211.71 WFR (Konkan) 64218 WFRB Master plan 64219 2267.86 64219 2267.86 Narmada 308 NWDT 308 10.88 308 10.88 Mahanadi 102 -102 3.60 103 3.64 Total 1,39,562 (Excluding KWDT-II) 115067 4063.67 116210 4104.02No.264, 265 & 271 used in theSr. No.Sub basinNo. of Water shedsCatchment area (sq.km)Net Recharge70% of Net GW RechargeCategorization(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)1Godavari8071525981749812248Safe2Krishna3156942578175479Critical3Tapi2995205846513256Critical4WFR (Konkan)913178022641583Safe5Narmada810483525Safe6Mahanadi43542719SafeTotal15243072633229222610Semi criticalSr. No.BasinCatchment Area (Sq. km)%Surface Water Available (Mcum)Surface water (Mcum) allottedGW Mcum Avail. InTotal Water (6+7) Avail. (Mcum)%(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)1Godavari15259849.83860729023122484127129.72Krishna6942522.7293001656254792204116.03Tapi5205816.870275995325692516.64WFR3178010.3642196421915836580247.45Narmada10480.3308308253330.26Mahanadi3540.1102103191220.1Total:3,07,2631001,39,5621,16,21022,6101,38,820100Table No. 4: Details of Surface Water Available & Allotted in Marathwada Source: Integrated State Water plan for Maharashtra (2018), Water Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra, vol. I. Page No. 227 & 281 b) Ground Water Potential in Marathwada No5Water Resources Potential and Development in Marathwada Region (Maharashtra State -India)Table No. 6: Basin-wise Surface & Ground Water Available in MarathwadaSource: Integrated State Water plan for Maharashtra (2018), Water Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra, vol. I. Page No. No. Sub Basins Cultivable Area (LHa) Surface Water (Mcum) Avail. Allotted 1 2 3 4 5 1 Middle Godavari 15.88 2720 1826 2 Dudhana 4.49 398 368 3 Purna 8.06 1829 1338 4 Sudha-Suvarna 0.38 171 56 5 Manjra 6.86 758 623 6 Terna 3.01 274 226 7 Lendi 1.45 316 212 8 Manar 2.27 247 247 9 Kayadhu 1.88 333 333 10. Penganga (Ptly) 3.85 2055 869 11. Bhima (Up) (Ptly) 5.54 1543 1468 Total 53.67 10644 7566 Sr. No. Sub Basins No. of water sheds Geographical area in LHa Net Recharge G.W. in Mcum 100% 70% 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 Middle Godavari 82 17.21 2551 1768 9 Kayadhu 09 2.24 360 252 10. Penganga (Ptly) 20 3.80 364 250 11. Bhima (Up) (Ptly) 35 5.83 612 417 Total 341 61.51 7773 5425 Source: Integrated State Water plan for Maharashtra (2018), Water Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra, Vol.-I Page No.264, 265 & 271 IV. Water Resources Development in Marathwada Source: Integrated State Water plan for Maharashtra (2018), Water Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra, Vol.-I Page No. 236 & 482 b) Ground Water Development in Marathwada The ground water assessment is carried out in the State by the Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA) in the year 2011-12. The information is compiled as watershed-wise recharge annual gross and industrial water supply needs to be kept reserved, based on projected population. Water resources Development planning for each sub-basin is based on the available water Sr. No. Sub Basin Surface water Allotted (Mcum) GW Total Water Avail. (70 % of Avail. (Mcum) Recharge) (3+4) In Mcum (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 1 Middle Godavari 1826 1768 3594 2 Dudhana 368 440 808 3 Purna 1338 986 2324 4 Sudha-Suvarna 56 69 124 5 Manjra 623 602 1225 6 Terna 226 268 494 7 Lendi 212 141 353 8 Manar 247 232 479 9 Kayadhu 333 252 585 10. Penganga (Ptly) 869 250 1119 11. Bhima (Up) (Ptly) 1468 417 1885 Total: 7566 5425 12991 Sr. No. Sub Basin Nos. of Projects Total Irrigation in Hectare Water use in (Mcum) Completed On-going 1 Middle Godavari 331 46 377 224577 1292.09 2 Dudhana 106 16 122 92019 498.50 3 Purna 181 53 234 141604 1433.37 4 Sudha-Suvarna 17 04 021 5069 30.63 5 Manjra 178 10 188 101493 660.05 c) Sr. 2 Dudhana 38 6.04 629 6 Terna 104 02 106 63455 312.96 440 3 Purna 68 10.25 1409 7 Lendi 99 04 103 49040 261.04 986 4 Sudha-Suvarna 03 0.80 98 8 Manar 215 15 230 82679 537.82 69 5 Manjra 37 7.23 860 9 Kayadhu 24 07 031 37461 246.79 602 6 Terna 16 3.24 383 10. Penganga (Ptly) 111 19 130 118084 810.0 268 7 Lendi 12 2.01 202 11. Bhima (Up)(Ptly) 160 10 170 177971 626.80 141 8 Manar 14 2.86 305 232 Total 1526 186 1712 1093452 6710.05Year 2022 ( ) Jgroundwater draft and ground water availability for useof various purposes like driving irrigation and industry.The assessment of total annual ground waterrecharge and net annual ground water availability (70%)recharge is given below. Annual gross ground waterdraft from irrigation wells, domestic wells and bore wellsis also given in the table. The allocation for domestica) Surface Water Development in Marathwadaresources in the Sub-Basin subject to the allocation within framework of the tribunal award, present scenario and future planning so as to obtain the optimal utilization of available water resources. The details of sub-basin wise irrigation development and water use are given in the Table no.7.Table No. 7: The details of irrigation projects and water use in Marathwada No8Source: Integrated State Water plan for Maharashtra (2018), Water Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra, Vol.-I PageNo. 204V. Water Transfer within the State ofMaharashtra no9( )© 2022 Global Journals Sr. No.Sub BasinsNo. of water shedsNet Recharge G.W. in Mcum 70%Draft (i.e. GW in use) McumFuture use in Mcum (Col. 5-6)No. of addl. Wells for Irri.12356781 Middle Godavari8217681172596397652Dudhana384403914932613Purna68986758228152014Sudha-Suvarna0369254429285Manjra37602609-706Terna16268322-5407Lendi12141875436238Manar1423210113186839Kayadhu0925215696642610. Penganga (Ptly)20250125125865611. Bhima (Up) (Ptly)354172371809520Total34154253621144298063Maharashtra State is covered by six river basinsviz. Godavari, Krishna, Tapi, West Flowing Rivers (WFR-Konkan), Narmada and Mahanadi basins. Largevariation of natural surface water availability withinbasins and sub-basins exists in Maharashtra State ingeneral. Average annual surface water availability variesfrom 0.16 Mm3/Sq.Km. in Tapi basin to 2.07 Mm3/Sq.Km. in west flowing river basin. Projects for interstatewater transfer, inter-basin water transfer within State, aswell as inter-sub-basin water transfer, are in existenceand are also being planned. Shortage of waterresources, continuous drought situations or floodsituations, demand planning of such water transferprojects in aggrieved sub-basin or water deficit sub-basin in particular. No9Sr. No.Donor Basin (Surplus)Donee Basin (Deficit)Total (5+7)BasinQty. MCum (TMC)Intra BasinQty. Mcum (TMC)Inter BasinQty. Mcum (TMC)Col. Mcum. (TMC)123456781. Godavari2261Vidarbh (Bembala)257Tapi (Purna)10511308M.Wada---(Penganga)553--553(Yeldari)400--400Total2261 (80)1210 (43)-1051 (37)2261 (80)I. Godavari1000MumbaiM. Wada329732972.WFR12448(Domestic1000Jayakwadi850850Water)II. Krishna890890III. Tapi463463Total12448 (440)-1000 (35)-5500 (195)6500 (230)G.Total14709-2210-65518761(TMC)(520)-(78)-(232)(310)(Information compiled from the available details of the Integrated State Water Plan) From the above table, it is seen that, the Godavari basin, in Vidarbha region is having 2261 Mcum (80 TMC) of surplus water in some sub basins, after keeping water up to 8000 Cum/Ha of culturable area (Normal Basin) for the use of those sub basins themselves. The surplus water is distributed as below. © 2022 Global Journals Year 2022 ( ) © 2022 Global Journals * Central water commission (2013) report on water and related statistics GOI * Report of the higher level committee on balanced regional development issues in Maharashtra. i.e. Dr. Kelkar Committee Report 2013 * A book on water management in India PCBansil 2004 * Ministry of water resources G.O.I www.mowr.nic.in 2007-07-15 * Maharashtra water & irrigation commission Report 1999 * Water Resources Department Govt. of Maharashtra 2016-17 Irrigation status report * GovtWrd Maharashtra 2019 Integrated State Water Plan * Mwrra Act 2005 * State Ground Water and Development Act 2009