Maha: Most dams, but dismal use of irrigation
Maharashtra has the largest number of big dams in India pegged at 1,845 but has one of the lowest cropped areas (agriculture) at 17.7 per cent against the national average of 45.5 per cent.
The question being asked is why have such large areas of this state remained unirrigated despite so many dams?
Dam expert Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People points out that nearly 320 projects were undertaken by the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation since 1997 but average has increased by just 26,000 hectares.
“Maharashtra has 36 per cent of India’s total dams but a fraction of its irrigated area. Already, `72,000 crore has been spent on these projects and another `89,000 crore will be required to complete projects in the state,” he said.
The M.K. Kulkarni Committee report on irrigation irregularities has highlighted that the cost of the Gosekhurd project saw an escalation of `1.19 crore per day because its cost had shot up 336 times in the 29 years it took to complete it. The cost of the Lower Paiganga project in Yeotmal district has seen an escalation of almost `2 crore per day.
Mr Thakkar cites the example of the construction of 11 barrages in Washim which has seen a cost escalation of `50 crore for each barrage from an estimate of `5 crore a year ago.
The other alarming aspect of this is that despite a lack of expansion of irrigation facilities, 2,000 million cubic metres of water is being presently allocated for thermal projects.
Mr Thakkar cites the example of the Jayakwadi dam near Aurganabad which is filled to only two per cent of its capacity but where a large chunk of its water supply is being allocated to distilleries and not agriculture.
Post new comment