Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in A case study on Management of Watershed project and irrigation in Chandrapur Region of Maharashtra Atul N. Barekar North Maharashtra University Abstract: Chandrapur District lies in Eastern Maharashtra. This district is one of the important rich Vidharbha region district of Maharashtra. It was the biodiversity regions of Maharashtra largest district in India until it was split into the separate district of Gadchiroli. This region receives In Chandrapur region, several watershed comparatively higher rainfall and supports moist projects have been taken up under various deciduous forest. Several watershed projects have government programmes in tribal regions. A few been taken up under various government watersheds have helped a fraction of the tribal programmes in this region. The project saw community improve their livelihoods. By and large, substantial investments in water resource this fraction does not include the poorer sections. development, manpower. But it does have had hardly Furthermore, the land development measures have any impact to establish the viability of the soil done little to improve soil fertility, decrease topsoil conservation and erosion treatment model for loss or help establish a healthy vegetative cover. environmentally degraded land in this region. Many major projects are in incomplete (where less Though the government has undoubtedly innovating than 25% work has been completed) category new technology and growing communication, it lacks including Human and Gosekhurd expected to irrigate the right direction to execute good policies. thousands hectare of land in tribal areas. The existing Therefore, the paper tries to explore some of the project appears to be failed due to furtive planning issues related to watershed and irrigation project in and sub-standard quality. eastern region of Maharashtra in formulating and executing the policies. A) Warora city: Lal nala dam— Chimur taluka is one of big taluka in district Keywords: Agriculture, Rural Development, including 263 villages. Devoicing any project of Irrigation Watershed Management. irrigation, the farmers do cultivate paddy as single crop (in kharif) resulting 5772.68 ha. area uncultivated from 61972.66 hectors cultivable land. Introduction To overcome the issue at some extent, the plan have been chalked out to supply the irrigation water from Chandrapur district can be divided into two the Lal Nala Dam Project of Samudrapur taluka in physiographic regions i.e., plane region in valleys of Wardha district. The beneficiary of Chumir taluka Wardha, Penganga and Wainganga Rivers and would be Aamdi (Begde), Chichghat, Rengabodi, Upland Hilly Region. The plane region is made up of Bhivkund, Wahangaon, Murpar (Rith), Khursapar, widely spread and flat terrain occurring mostly along Khapari, Bothali, Khangaon, Sawari irrigating about Wardha River. In Wainganga valley flat terrain 3308 ha. But from few years, these extensive works exhibits rolling topography with residual hills in the have been ceased near Aamdi (Begde).The farmers southern part, while in the northern part (Brahmapuri are awaiting for the irrigation benefits of Lal Nala. taluka) wide alluvial flood plains are Similarly, in 1985 to facilitate the irrigation observed.(Central Ground Water Board, Ground for 40 villages in Warora taluka the work of Water Information Chandrapur District) composite canal of Lal Nala Dam and Pothara dam was undertaken. But since from 19 years, 8 villages The Chandrapur region receives of terminal end of canal are not benefiting. The comparatively higher rainfall and supports moist acquisition of land have been made by the farmers deciduous forest.this dense forest provide habitat for from villages Shembal, Wanoja, Mohabala,Wanali, wild life. The famous national park Tadoba is located Panzurni, in this district.it can be observed from the above Charur (khati),Naydeo and Marda but the farmers are table that, the total forest area of this district is 53.53 not only deprived from the irrigation water also they percent as compare to the rest of the region in still don’t had the compensation of merged land. Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 1989 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in B) Soit-Dindoda lift irrigation project: In 2000, the amendments have been made to To irrigated 202 hector land in a year, the provide 25.72% water to the cement company, ambitious lift irrigation project known as Soit- resulting only 50% (1131 ha.) land under irrigation. dindoda lift irrigation project was constructed 10 The tribal farmers in the area do cultivate cotton, tur, years before on Wardha river in Warora taluka but soybean in kharip and wheat, gram in rabi season. the famers are disappointed because of not getting Already 113 viilages in taluka are facing the intense the benefits of the irrigation project. This project has water scarcity. The canals are not cleaned and two main canals and one batch canal. The project dugged upto the terminal end of targeted user. was handed over to the co-operative lift irrigation Therefore the farmers from Pakadiguddam— society by means of gram sabha, but the chairpersons Konurli—Wadgaon, Amalnala—Gadchandur---Bibi were not trained and acknowledged about the villages are not having the irrigation Facility. In the management and implementation of this project. Due special meeting of Panchayat Samittee, the Gram to lacking of co-ordination between irrigation Panchayats of the villages under the area of this dam department and the society the farmers are Piparda, Dhanoli, Loni, Wansadi, Wadgaon, cultivating rainfed. Belgaon, Sharaj and Matha took the consensus, about not providing the water to those companies. But still C) Sindewahi- Mohadi –Naleshwar dam the farmers are not getting the allotted irrigation To protect the paddy crop and eliminate water. drought condition in Sindewahi and Mul taluka, the British Empire had constructed a dam near E) Gosikhurd-Disapointed project Naleshwar in 1914. Lateron the efficiency of dam was increased to irrigate 2900 ha. (1900 hector of Even after 25 years since April 22, 1988, Sindewahi taluka and 1000 Hector. of Mul taluka). the mega irrigation project is still incomplete. Barely The old dam is now needed to renovate as its 15 per cent of planned irrigation potential of irrigation efficiency is lowered down by the 40 % 2,50,800 hectares has been created so far. While capacity. It needs to excavate out the stagnated mud paddy farmers in Nagbhid, Bramhapuri, Chimur, since from many years in order to store water at its Sindewahi, Saoli, Mul, Gondpipri and Pombhurna efficiency level. The dam should be managed by the tehsils are still waiting for irrigation benefits to the department of minor irrigation itself instead of giving desired extent, the project got mired into it to the private contractor. Repairing of expired and controversies with several official committees deteriorated canals & sub-canals can check the pointing out irregularities, violation of norms, sub- wastage of water. standard work. The construction of the right canal which passes through Chandrapur district is nearing D) Rajura completion. Water from the canal can easily irrigate Maintenance of dam: The farmers are not farmlands that fall under 30km of its length(though benefitiaries of Dongargaon dam in the command much needs to be done as Mendhegiri Committee area because of substandered work of canals and low had pointed out sub-standard quality of canal work, maintainance. Literally the canals are damaged and and CWC (Cental Water Commission) had reported dumped with mud enveloped with the vegetation sliding down of canal lining at some places). from 4 to 5 year. Therefore the farmers of villages However, water is still not reaching the farmers as Virur, Dhanora, Subai, Thumaguda, Khambada, planned. The main reason is incomplete works of Dongargaon, Kavitpeth, Chincholi, Chinchala and distribution system and field channels. Planning to Chibodi are deprived from the irrigation to be divert water for industrial purpose is one of another benefited. issue. Farmers had given their lands for the Diversion of irrigation water: The ‘Amalnala’ and project and have been waiting for years to reap the ‘Pakadiguddam’ dams were established to provide benefits of irrigation project; unfortunately the tribal the irrigation facility to the farmer aimed 2968 hector farmers inundated neither having irrigation nor of land under command area but the majority of the compensation yet.The corruption in Gosikhurd dam water is being consumed regularly by the industries is now public to all. nearby. Korpana is one of the taluka of tribal villages. In 1985, the Amalnala dam was established Water pollution and industries: near the Manikgarh valley. In 1994, to bring the 25 There is drastic and direct effect of village under command area the work of industrialization of chandrapur district on the forest, ‘Pakadiguddam’ dam had been launched in the same farming and rivers. The industrial extension, taluka. excavation and hipping of waste products continuously decreasing the forest area. This is why the cultivation of crops as well as the irrigation Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 1990 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in sources directly