Context: Recently, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, to implement the Narmada Landscape Restoration Project (NLRP).

Narmada Landscape Restoration Project

• Aim: To establish an incentivisation mechanism to maintain sustainable landscape practices in Narmada basin.
• Landscape restoration is the concept of sustainable development and building a public participation platform integrated with experts, designers, and user.

Funding Mechanism
The project will be jointly implemented with

• IIFM, Bhopal, an Autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), 
• Government of India (GoI) with the grant-in-aid from NTPC Ltd.

Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)

• an intergovernmental organization that promotes sustainable and inclusive economic growth in emerging economies

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

• The international development arm of the US Government.

Implementation

• 4-year project will be implemented in Khargone District of Madhya Pradesh, in the catchments of tributaries of the River Narmada between Omkareshwar and Maheshwar dams.

Mkareshwar Dam
The Omkareshwar Dam is one of the major downstream dams of Indira Sagar Project. 

• lies along the bank for the Narmada and Kaveri.

Maheshwar Dam

• Maheshwar is one of the planned large dams on the Narmada Valley to provide 400 MW electricity.

Implementing Agencies

• IIFM, Bhopal, an Autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) will be jointly implementing this project with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).

Benefits of the Project

• Demonstrate nature-based solutions for enhancing ecosystem services.
• Promote a clean and sustainable environment concerning land, water and air.
• Improvement in water quality and quantity.

Narmada River

• Narmada is the largest west flowing river of the peninsular region.
• It rises from Maikala range near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.
• It flows through a rift valley between the Vindhya Range on the north and the Satpura Range on the south.
• It drains a large area in Madhya Pradesh and some areas in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• It forms DhuanDhar Falls near Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh).
• There are several islands in the estuary of the Narmada of which Aliabet is the largest.
• Major Tributaries: Hiran, Orsang, the Barna and the Kolar.
• Major Hydro Power Projects: Indira Sagar, Sardar Sarovar etc.