Why In The News?

• The Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project is an initiative aimed at enhancing regional water security between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• Recently, the governments of both states signed an MoU to jointly implement this project.
• The agreement was finalised during a meeting of the Madhya Pradesh–Maharashtra Inter-State Control Board in Bhopal.

Project Details:

⇒ The Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project focuses on addressing water needs in both states.

⇒ It aims to divert water from the Tapti River to meet drinking water demands in northeastern Maharashtra, particularly in Nagpur.

⇒ Additionally, it will support irrigation in southern and southeastern Madhya Pradesh, including districts like Burhanpur and Khandwa.

Historical Context:

⇒ This project is the third initiative by Madhya Pradesh in recent years.

⇒ Previous projects include the Ken–Betwa link with Uttar Pradesh and the Parvati–Kalisindh–Chambal project with Rajasthan.

⇒ The Tapti project reflects a growing trend of inter-state collaboration in water resource management.

Water Allocation and Benefits:

⇒ The MoU outlines the planned utilisation of 31.13 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water.

⇒ Madhya Pradesh is allocated 11.76 TMC while Maharashtra receives 19.36 TMC.

⇒ The project is expected to benefit 5.78 lakh acres of land, enhancing irrigation in both states.

Project Implementation Details:

⇒ The initiative will utilise 3,362 hectares of land in Madhya Pradesh without displacing villages or requiring rehabilitation.

⇒ The Centre is anticipated to fund 90% of the project cost, which is estimated at ?19,244 crores.

⇒ The projected irrigation benefits include 1,23,082 hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 2,34,706 hectares in Maharashtra.

Significance of the Initiative:

⇒ Described as the “world’s largest recharge scheme,” the Tapti Basin initiative was originally conceptualised in the 1990s.

⇒ This project marks the importance of sustainable development through collaborative efforts in water management.

⇒ The recent signing of the MoU marks a revival of inter-governmental discussions that had been sporadic over the years.

Future Steps:

⇒ The next meeting of the Inter-State Board is scheduled for October.

⇒ This will continue the momentum of the project, ensuring that discussions lead to effective implementation.

⇒ Both state leaders have expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential to secure a water supply for future generations.