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Time of India
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Madhya Pradesh voices concerns over Rs 19,244 crore Tapi Basin mega recharge scheme (TBMRS)
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh may have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Tapi Basin Mega Recharge Scheme (TBMRS) — a massive inter-state groundwater rejuvenation project with Maharashtra, touted as the world's largest of its kind — but not everyone in the state is on board. Last week, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra signed an MoU to jointly implement the project after a meeting of the Madhya Pradesh–Maharashtra Inter-State Control Board in Bhopal. The MoU was signed by MP chief minister Mohan Yadav and Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. A section of the MP bureaucracy, however, remains sceptical, expressing concern that the scheme offers limited benefits to the state compared to its financial burden, sources informed. Some officials had earlier proposed alternatives that would include districts like Betul within Madhya Pradesh to ensure a more equitable distribution of benefits. "During my tenure, the proposal involved transferring Madhya Pradesh's share of water to Maharashtra, which we did not agree to. I haven't seen the current MoU, but in any sub-surface storage, the downstream state often ends up withdrawing more water, and accurate water accounting becomes difficult. We had identified a suitable site on the Tapti river, on the border of Betul and Khandwa districts, and prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for a reservoir that could irrigate over one lakh hectares. Unfortunately, the project didn't progress as the government shifted focus due to the 2018 elections," said a senior official on condition of anonymity. At the heart of the discontent is the scheme's financial structure. With an estimated total cost of Rs 19,244 crore, Maharashtra is expected to bear 62% (Rs 11,931 crore), while Madhya Pradesh would contribute the remaining 38% (Rs 7,313 crore). "It is not yet decided whether the central government will bear the maximum cost of this project or these two states will have to do it on their own," said an officer. However, this investment split reflects the project's unequal benefits: Maharashtra stands to gain 66% of the irrigated area (2.34 lakh hectares), while Madhya Pradesh would receive just 34% (1.23 lakh hectares). This imbalance has raised red flags, with experts warning that a skewed cost-benefit ratio could exacerbate inter-state tensions — especially since many of the infrastructure components, including groundwater recharge structures and canals, span across administrative borders and require coordinated management. TBMRS is currently planned to cover six districts and 16 tehsils across the two states. In Madhya Pradesh, the project includes Khargone and Burhanpur districts, while Maharashtra's share spans Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, and Jalgaon. The scheme aims to utilise 31.13 TMC of water, with 11.76 TMC allocated to Madhya Pradesh and 19.36 TMC to Maharashtra — including 8.31 TMC from dam releases and 22.82 TMC through aquifer recharge. TBMRS requires approximately 8,118 hectares of land, with 4,836 hectares privately owned. The project, however, does not involve displacement of any villages, eliminating the need for resettlement. Land distribution is as follows: Madhya Pradesh: 3,362 hectares (1,599 ha private) Maharashtra: 4,756 hectares (3,237 ha private) Geological studies have confirmed that the identified recharge zones — largely composed of talus and alluvial deposits — possess high infiltration potential, making them ideal for sustainable groundwater replenishment. The project's roots trace back to a 1958 technical committee led by M. S. Thimmal Iyengar, which assessed water availability at the Ukai Dam on the Tapi River. In 2014, a task force under the director of the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) revisited the concept. Following favourable feasibility assessments in 2016, detailed project reports were developed by WAPCOS, supported by satellite and geophysical data. While the technical groundwork for TBMRS is largely complete, the project faces an uncertain future due to unresolved fiscal issues. The budget has yet to receive final approval, and disagreements over cost-sharing and maintenance responsibilities persist. Officers say TBMRS could be a transformative initiative — but only if both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh can find common ground on financial and administrative commitments. Key infrastructure elements include: A diversion weir at Kharya Gut Ghat in Khandwa (MP) with a storage capacity of 8.31 TMC. Three major canal systems: Right Bank Canal (RBC): 221 km Left Bank Canal – Phase I (LBC-1): 135.64 km Left Bank Canal – Phase II (LBC-2): 123.97 km
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra ink MoU for Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project
In a significant move towards regional water security, the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly implement the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project. The agreement, aimed at addressing the water needs of select regions in both States, was finalised following a meeting of the Madhya Pradesh–Maharashtra Inter-State Control Board held in Bhopal. The MoU was signed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, marking a renewed effort to harness inter-State river resources for sustainable development. The project is the third such initiative undertaken by the Madhya Pradesh government in the past year, following the Ken–Betwa link with Uttar Pradesh and the Parvati–Kalisindh–Chambal project with Rajasthan. Under the proposed project, water from the Tapti river - which originates in Madhya Pradesh's Betul district - will be diverted to cater to the drinking water needs of northeastern Maharashtra, including Nagpur, and provide irrigation support to southern and southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh such as Burhanpur and Khandwa. Notably, the river is known as the Tapi in Maharashtra. The MoU aims to benefit 5.78 Lakh acres of land and boost irrigation for for Vidarbha and North Maharashtra, said Mr. Fadnavis. Mr. Yadav said consultations would be held with the Union government to seek recognition of the Tapti initiative as a national water project. He noted that the total planned utilisation of water under the scheme stands at 31.13 thousand million cubic feet (TMC), with 11.76 TMC allocated to Madhya Pradesh and 19.36 TMC to Maharashtra. 'The project entails the use of 3,362 hectares of land in Madhya Pradesh, with no displacement of villages and no requirement for rehabilitation,' Mr. Yadav said, adding that the Centre is expected to fund 90 per cent of the project cost. The initiative, he added, is projected to ensure permanent irrigation for 1,23,082 hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 2,34,706 hectares in Maharashtra. The beneficiary districts in Maharashtra are Jalgaon, Akola, Buldhana, and Amravati in Madhya Pradesh, total area 1,23,082 hectares area will be benefited, including Burhanpur, and Khandwa. The estimated cost of the project is ₹19,244 crores (as per 2022–23 estimates) Describing the Tapti Basin initiative as the 'world's largest recharge scheme', Mr. Fadnavis said the project had originally been conceptualised in the 1990s during his tenure as Mayor of Nagpur. He also noted that Saturday's meeting of the Inter-State Board was the first in 25 years - the last such meeting having been convened in 2000. 'I thank Chief Minister Yadav for his proactive support in reviving this important project, which has seen sporadic inter-governmental discussions over the years,' he said. The last such meeting was held in 2000, and the next one has now taken place in 2025. 'I had visited Madhya Pradesh 28 years ago with the then Chief Minister in connection with the Jamghat Project. It is heartening to see that the project is finally gaining momentum. The Jamghat Project will ensure a steady water supply for Nagpur city for the next 30 to 40 years. The next meeting is scheduled to be held in October,' Mr. Fadnavis added.
