India Rivers Week - Maharshtra 2016 State of India’s Rivers For India Rivers Week, 2016 Maharashtra Author Dr. Parineeta Dandekar 1 India Rivers Week - Maharshtra 2016 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 8 1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Rivers of Maharashtra .......................................................................................................... 9 1.3 River Pollution ................................................................................................................... 12 1.4 Cultural Importance of Rivers in Maharashtra .................................................................. 13 2. TAPI RIVER BASIN ........................................................................................................... 15 2.1 Physical features ................................................................................................................ 15 2.2 Physiography...................................................................................................................... 16 2.3 Rainfall ............................................................................................................................... 17 2.4 Forests ................................................................................................................................ 18 2.5 Biodiversity ........................................................................................................................ 18 2.6 River Course ...................................................................................................................... 19 2.7 Tributaries .......................................................................................................................... 19 2.8 Major Tributaries of the Tapi River System ...................................................................... 19 2.9 Districts and regions covered in Tapi Basin: ..................................................................... 22 2.10 Water sharing and Projects: ............................................................................................. 22 2.11 Major Projects on Tapi Basin: ......................................................................................... 23 2.12 Salient Features of some Projects in Tapi Basin .............................................................. 25 2.13 Cultural Aspects ............................................................................................................... 26 2.14 Projects and related Issues ............................................................................................... 28 2.15 Water Quality ................................................................................................................... 30 3. GODAVARI RIVER BASIN .............................................................................................. 31 2 India Rivers Week - Maharshtra 2016 3.1 Salient Features .................................................................................................................. 31 3.2 Principal Tributaries........................................................................................................... 32 3.3 Climate ............................................................................................................................... 35 3.4 Principle Sub-Basins .......................................................................................................... 35 3.5 River Narratives ................................................................................................................. 37 3.6 Biodiversity of the basin .................................................................................................... 38 3.7 Dams & Barrages ............................................................................................................... 40 3.8 Intra state water disputes .................................................................................................... 42 3.9 Surplus basin or Deficit Basin?.......................................................................................... 43 3.10 Inter State River Linking Proposals on Godavari ............................................................ 44 3.11 Godavari Water Disputes ................................................................................................. 45 3.12 THREAT and HEALTH ASSESSMENT ....................................................................... 48 4. WEST FLOWING RIVERS OF MAHARASHTRA .......................................................... 50 4.1 Introduction: ....................................................................................................................... 50 4.2 Climate: .............................................................................................................................. 54 4.3 Description of some of the major West Flowing Rivers in Maharashtra .......................... 54 4.4 Summing up the other major Issues surrounding West Flowing Rivers: .......................... 72 5. KRISHNA RIVER BASIN .................................................................................................. 76 5.1 Salient Features .................................................................................................................. 76 5.2 Principal tributaries: ........................................................................................................... 78 5.3 Climate ............................................................................................................................... 79 5.4 Principle Sub-Basins .......................................................................................................... 79 5.5 Biodiversity of the basin .................................................................................................... 81 3 India Rivers Week - Maharshtra 2016 5.6 Dams & Barrages ............................................................................................................... 83 5.7 Proposed Inter Basin Transfers .......................................................................................... 86 5.8 Proposed Intra-Basin Transfers.......................................................................................... 88 5.9 Water Disputes ................................................................................................................... 88 5.10 Water Quality ................................................................................................................... 90 5.11 Basin Closure ................................................................................................................... 92 6. BHIMA RIVER BASIN ...................................................................................................... 93 6.1 Spiritual Significance ......................................................................................................... 94 6.2 Forests & wildlife .............................................................................................................. 94 6.3 Upper Bhima Basin dotted with dams ............................................................................... 94 6.4 Growing inequities & water conflicts in Upper Bhima basin ............................................ 96 6.5 Growing Pollution .............................................................................................................. 98 4 India Rivers Week - Maharshtra 2016 Figures Figure 1: River Basins of Maharashtra: Area and yield Source: MWRRA, Govt of Maharashtra ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 2: Walen Kondh River Fish Sanctuary on Kal River in Maharashtra Photo: SANDRP .. 14 Figure 3: Basin Area of Tapi in various states Source: India-WRIS .......................................... 16 Figure 4: 10 Years average rainfall in various sub basins of Tapi Basin Source: Central Water Commission ................................................................................................................................. 17 Figure 5: Sipna River near Melghat Tiger Reserve Photo: SANDRP ......................................... 18 Figure 6: Purna River in Amravati Photo: SANDRP .................................................................. 20 Figure 7: Main tributaries of the Tapi Basin Source: Central water Commission ...................... 21 Figure 8: Tapi Basin Source: Centre for Coastal Zone Management and Coastal Shelter Belt .. 23 Figure 9: Major Projects on Tapi Basin ....................................................................................... 24 Figure 10: Projects under construction in Tapi Basin .................................................................. 25 Figure 11: Projects in Purna Basin............................................................................................... 25 Figure 12: Tapi Janmadivas celebrated in Surat Source: Times of India .................................... 27 Figure 13: Godavari Ghats at Nashik Photo: SANDRP .............................................................. 31 Figure 14: Wainganga River Photo: SANDRP ...........................................................................