Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR) is a water conservation method to reduce irregular distribution of water and for providing solutions to minimize the impact of floods and droughts for people living in those areas. The rivers in semi –arid or drought – prone areas are the mainstay of livelihood for millions of people. Hence, it hardly needs to highlight the need for proper management of river waters. By and large, Indian agriculture depends upon monsoon, whose vagaries are always uncertain and cause either flooding or droughts. The problem is aggravated by a severe lack of irrigation. The result is that when one region suffers water starvation, water logging in other regions is witnessed. Damage to crops due to droughts and absence of water draining facility are effectively managed in many countries and it is possible in India, too. Experts have been warning for years that depleting and decreasing water availability will be one of the most critical resource issues of the 21st century. To overcome the recurring threat of droughts, water scarcity and floods in different parts of Maharashtra, a massive river interlinking project needs urgent implementation.
ILR projects must be implemented by the government due to their urgency, nature and the huge outlays involved. A healthy river can provide extra irrigation intensity in the designated area, can increase water availability for drinking and industres, will minimise impact of drought and floods and if possible, can enhance power generation capacity for the region. The Union government, in order to study and examine the probability of diverting the excess waters, constituted the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) in 1982. The feasibility of inter-basin transfer of water,the related issues and the ILR, the economic and ecological benefits leading to sustainable development of a given region as well as the adverse impacts due to inter-basin water transfer are some of the main issues to be studies by the Agency.
In Maharashtra, several efforts have been made to deal with these issues. An expert committee under noted scientist Madhav Gadgil studied the Western Ghat ecology. Gadgil later lamented that haphazard planning of highways by cutting mountains slopes, unchecked construction and mining activities continued unabated. He pointed out that the recommendations of his committee were not followed up by the government.
The Maharashtra government, similarly, appointed another expert committee of ten members, headed by former irrigation secretary Nandkumar Vadnere in August 2019. This was immediately after the flooding in July-August that year to study the reasons and recommend adequate measures to prevent future disasters. Besides the demarcation of restricted zones by marking flood lines and identifying the flood plains, the committee had recommended removal and rehabilitation of encroachments, mainly from river beds. It recommended, inter alia, installation of advanced weather forecasting systems, real time decision support (RTDS) systems, restoration of natural waterways and their desilting, strengthening of river meanders, construction of more flood dams and temporary flood storage tanks. The committee had also recommended strict implementation of the guidelines on the management of floods and urban flooding issued by the National Disaster Management Authority way back in 2008 and 2010. The committee had recommended forming a flood zoning authority for two districts. It also recommended amendment in Clause 16 of the Maharashtra Irrigation Act for demarcation of floodplain zones.
Both committees submitted their comprehensive reports to the government. Their recommendations are still on paper. In fact, that is fate of most such reports. For instance, the Madhav Chitale report on the Mithi river in Mumbai is lying with the government for urgent action. While more and more funds are poured into the project to prevent its flooding, the problem has been worsening every succeeding year.
The heavy downpour in Konkan region and some parts of western Maharashtra annuals wreaks havoc in several districts. It takes the toll of human and animal lives. Lakhs of people are evacuated to safer places. Preliminary estimates of the damage are published by the state. The estimated losses are of hundreds of crores of rupees. This is the situation in Maharashtra year after year.
The Sahyadri mountain range is the source region of rivers. The rains falling in their vicinity is divided into Konkan and Deccan Plateau equally. Concentration of the rains in the floodplain areas leads to the flooding. Urbanisation in Maharashtra is a major challenge for planners. It has resulted in change in the natural landscape which earlier would drain out excess waters. The excessive use of cement, tar and paver blocks results in obstructing the seeping or percolation of the water.
Another reason is rampant construction in river channels and floodplains. This results in constricting of river channels. The outcome is that the rivers cannot hold the volume of water which they would hold naturally. Disturbances within the riparian zones can vitiate the stability of the river banks. They also damage the first and second order streams, which are already affected due to constructions. All such factors lead to disturbing the ecosystem. It is commonly seen that the drainage systems in all our cities fall short to dispose of the flood waters.
Over the years, the pattern of the monsoons has been changing. The season’s rainfall is spread over a few days rather than over the four months of the rainy season. According to some experts, cloudbursts have become more frequent due to climate changes.
The Gadgil committee’s recommendations were found to be too unpalatable for the government. A review committee was appointed under Kasturirangan. This committee diluted the Gadgil committee report by over fifty percent. Even this diluted report has been overlooked by the authorities, environmentalists allege. They argue that there is no objection to development, but it should be based on watershed management approach. The construction should happen by taking each particular landscape into consideration and respecting its ecosystem.
Experts have made several suggestions to the government. They insist that the areas like Chiplun or Mahad towns require tailor-made specific measures for managing floods. In cities like Kolhapur, Sangli and confluence regions, floods will get retained over longer periods due to morphological features of the landscape. These factors are vital in long-term planning.
Suggestions to constitute a separate department for implementation of the recommendations has been forgotten. Strict guidelines must be implemented for infrastructure development in the districts which chronically face flooding. A holistic approach towards these problems will involve planning of measures with short, medium and long term perspective. Similarly, there should be comprehensive planning for water management.
It is true that there are financial constraints for the state to implement such recommendations. But that excuse alone would not work since numerous lives depend upon flood and drought management.
A Column By
Dilip Chaware – Senior Editor
A media professional for 43 years, with extensive experience of writing on
a variety of subjects; he is also a documentary producer and book author.
