State govt gives approval for Damanganga-Godavari link

Nashik/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: State govt on Monday approved the Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari river linking project, which is set to divert 5.68 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water from west-flowing rivers to the Godavari basin.
The quantum of water to be diverted is equivalent to the capacity of Gangapur dam (5.6 TMC), which is the main source of drinking water for residents of Nashik city.
Commenting on the development, Nashik district's guardian minister Dada Bhuse told TOI, "State govt has given its approval for the project that will help irrigation facilities in Sinnar taluka."
Former Member of Parliament (MP) Hemant Godse, who had followed up on the matter with the Centre, National Water Development Authority (NWDA) and state govt for the past seven years, said, "I am happy that the project I proposed and got the prefeasibility report ready for from NWDA has now been approved by state govt for Rs13,500 crore."
Three dams will be constructed downstream of the Upper Vaitarna project to tap water that flows into the Arabian Sea. This water will be lifted in the Upper Vaitarna project, from where it will flow into Kadva dam by gravity. The water will once again be lifted into Borkhind, from where it will flow in Devnadi, which originates here and runs through 70% of the Sinnar taluka.
"Of the total 5.6 TMC water to be diverted, 1.4 TMC will go to Marathwada. The remaining 4.2 TMC will be available for drinking, irrigation, and industries in Sinnar. This will ensure water availability for industries in Sinnar to find space in the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor," said Godse.
While the project has been approved by the Cabinet, other approvals related to environment, forests, etc. will be required and will follow in due course of time, said officials. "We are sure govt will take this project up at a faster pace in the interest of the people of the region," said Godse.
‘Marathwada should be sole beneficiary'
Water rights activists from Marathwada have asserted that the drought-prone region is legally entitled to be the sole beneficiary of the Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari linking scheme.
"Nashik or Ahmednagar drawing water from the proposed diversion scheme is out of the question. The entire water must be diverted towards Jayakwadi dam and other irrigation projects from Marathwada," said Abhijeet Dhanorkar, a petitioner in the Supreme Court for water rights.
Shankar Nagare, former expert member of the Marathwada Development Board (Irrigation), said the upstream areas of Jayakwadi dam already draw excess water from the Godavari basin.
"These areas draw over 160 TMC now, against the permitted usage of 115 TMC. So, state govt must ensure that all the water from the upcoming diversion reaches Marathwada," he told TOI.
Water rights activists also said much-discussed diversion project still needs multiple sanctions from Centre, as well as huge fund flow. "The cabinet decision taken in the run-up to the assembly poll should not be reduced to hollow promises. In every past election, politicians have committed to making proper water supply available, but nothing happens on ground," Nagare added. (Inputs from Prasad Joshi)