Chapter-1 Introduction Jayakwadi project constructed on Godavari River at Paithan is about 50 km from Aurangabad. The water body called as “Nathsagar”. It has good number of algae higher plants, fishes and other aquatic animals. Millions of birds visit this water body every year and therefore the Govt. of Maharashtra declared it as “Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary.” in 1986. Godavari is one of the prominent river in Maharashtra. In Maratwada region of Maharashtra state, about 50 km away from Aurangabad, a dam is constructed on the river at Pathin, which is known as Jayakwadi project. The water body known as „Nathsagar.‟ is geographically located between 7500‟00” E longitudes and 19018‟33” and 19033‟16‟ N, latitudes. The water body is about 55 KM in length and 27 KM in width. Of this area, about 25-28% area is shallow, where the water body is biologically active, having large number of flora and fauna. Several Angiospermic plants and large number of algae are observed in this area. Godavari is considered the “Ganges of Deccan” with fertile lands on it banks. It serves as source of water and plays an important role in improving Scio-economic life of the population residing on its banks. The river Godavari has a special place in mind of people, due to mythological and historical importance. With the growing need of additional food production, irrigation project play a key role in the march towards prosperity.Jayakwadi dam is one of such bold schemes conceived for irrigating about 2, 78,000 hectares of land. A dam near holy town Paithan is constructed on Godavari River to impound 2909 m. cum of water. Two canals emerging from either bank cater water for irrigation to the command area from Aurangabad, Jalana, Parbhani, Ahmednagar and Beed Districts. Late Prime-minister Lalabhadur Shasrti laid down the foundation stone of Jayakwadi dam on 18th October 1965. The late Prime-minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the project on 24th February 1976.The catchments area of Paithan dam is 21,750 sq. Km.The gross storage capacity is 2909 m. cum. (Million cubic meters). The maximum height of dam above the riverbed is 37 m. The length of dam is 10.20 KM. the length of over flow section is 417 m. The type of dam is Earthen. The ~ 1 ~ submergence area is 35,000 hectares. The earthwork is 12.85 m. cum. The masonry work is 0.33 m. cum. The dam has 27 spillway gates. The district wise distribution of irrigable command area of the canal is Aurangabad 9,052 hectares, Jalna 36,580 hectares, Parbhani 97,440 hectares, Ahmednagar 2,290 hectares and Beed 37,960 hectares. Paithan town is looked upon with reverence, due to its link with “Sant Eknath”. Pathin has been in prominence in various fields, over last two thousand years. Paithan was commercially connected with Greece and Rome in period 200 B. C. The great king “SHALIWAHAN” hails from this place. Even in recent history, numbers of important personalities are linked with this city. Saints like Eknath, Krishna Dayarnava, Shivadin Kesari, Schlolars like Remeshvara Bhatta, “Gangabhatt” also hail from this place. It is only in the fitness of things that a “ new place of pilgrimage”, to put it in words of our beloved leader, Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, has sprung up just near this holy place being visited by pilgrims, over last several centuries. PAITHAN HYDEL SCHEME:- The Paithan Hydel Schemes consist of installation of a 12 MW reversible pump turbine unit, at the foot of the Paithan Dam. The power station would utilize the average head of about 27 m. created by the Dam. Since the utilization of water from the Dam, is primarily for irrigation, a reversible pump turbine unit has been installed so that, it would continue to generate power even after full irrigation is developed, and no water is allowed to be washed into operate as pumped storage scheme, a tall pool weir downstream to Paithan Dam is constructed. The power station is interconnected with khapharkheda-Paras-Bhusaval grid which is purely thermal system. Paithan hydel scheme will supplement the power created during peak hour demand i.e. during 8.00 AM to 11.00 AM and 5.00 PM to 8.00 PM during each day. SANT DNYANESHWAR UDYAN:- A garden (Udyan) named after the Sant Dnyaneshwar whose birth place is Apegaon near Paithan town, is constructed as a part of Jayakwadi project. The garden is expanded over 124 hectares of land on Left Bank, with developments on the lines of famous garden at “VRINDAVAN” in Karnatak state and “PINJORE” in Haryana state. ~ 2 ~ The main feature of this Udyan, are memorial temple of “Sant shri Dnyaneshwar”. Additional building such as administrative building, a research institute for the research of Indian philosophy is proposed in the premises of the temple. Informal Garden part is constructed to bring the tourists to Udyan, like a hill station. The formal garden with water springs inside, and proper lighting sounding aspect, is also a monumental feature of the Udyan. In order to meet a substantial part of expenditure on maintenance of the Udyan, an orchard garden is also developed as a part of the Udyan. The Udyan project would be an additional attraction to not only Indian tourists, but tourists from abroad also. FISH SEED FARM:- There is a large fish seed farm located on right bank on down-stream of Paithan Dam. After completion of this project the fish farm is proposed to yield each year over 400 M. Tonnes of fish from Nathsagar formed due to Paithan dam, apart from supplying about (1.5 crores) fish seed to different storages. About 40 lakhs of finger lings of cultivable varieties of fish seeds viz. Cutla, Roha, Mrigal and Cyprinus are proposed to be produced annually. An area of about 32 hectares (80 acres) is used to cover the fish farm. COMMAND AREA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY:- Command Area Development Authority for Jayakwadi project was created in 1974 with an aim to bridge the gap between irrigation potential and utilization and to optimize the agricultural production. Presently one chief Engineer and Administrators are looking after the command Area Development works of Jayakwadi project. The organization is headed by the secretary and Commissioner CAD and Executive Director at state GMIDC level respectively The work of constructing field channels, development, implementation of suitable cropping pattern, supply of all inputs viz. seeds , fertilizers etc. and services including credits, strengthening of extension services, efficient operation of the complete irrigation system, are entrusted to this authority. The infrastructure works i. e. link roads, market yards, and also drainage works in command area are executed by this authority. ~ 3 ~ Some pilot schemes were taken up and executed, under Jayakwadi command through CADA, for increasing the irrigation utilization by optimizing use of water, With other inputs and benefits of extension services, it is possible to achieve optimum yield of crops, and create confidence in the mind of concerned farmers about the benefits of irrigated agriculture, and to provide guide lines to other farmers. Economically, culturally and biologicaly water is the most useful natural resource on the earth. From time immemorial, water remains to be the most important raw material for civilization.It is one of the vital resources for all kinds of life on the earth. It acts as a universal solvent in which mineral nutrients are dissolved are absorbed by terrestrial plants. Phytoplankton can not absorb their minerals requirements unless the minerals are dissolved in the water. Food must be dissolved before it enters the blood streams of animal. Most of the waste products of metabolism are carried away after dissolving in water. It is said that, “Everything originated in the water, and everything is sustained by water.” Water is needed to fulfill diverse requirements in so many diverse ways. It is vital to life for all physiological activities of plants and animals. Water serves as a very convenient means of navigation at many places. Besides, it adds the aesthetic value to landscape and provides the opportunities for recreation. It can therefore, be said that, water is essential for life, it is significantly linked with social, economical, cultural, political and ecological working. Thus, water is the nature‟s gift to living worlds including human race. We use water for drinking, bathing, cooking, cooling, irrigation, energy power, transportation and recreation. Though water seems to be abundant on the earth, the uneven distribution of usable water creates a serious conservation problem at many nukes and corners of the world where it is needed vitally. In such areas the purity of the water becomes critical. Our biosphere consists of 71% of water coverage.Out of available water source on the earth 97. 4% is salty water in the form of oceans and seas, while fresh water environments occupied only 2.6% of which 1. 98% is found in frozen from in ice caps and glaciers. It means only 0.62% water from Lakes, Streams, River and other resources are available for living organisms and to the being of society (Gholap, 2000). ~ 4 ~ Man not only always suffers by scarcity of water during drought but also faces with the equally serious problem due to excess of water during floods. Violent floods may prove highly devastating to human settlements, agricultural fields, forests, wild life, washing away fertile top soil and creating problems like water logging. Due to uncontrolled anthropogenic activities, these limited sources of fresh water are also getting polluted day by day causing acute scarcity of potable water. Fresh water environment is very important since it is the only source of water for drinking, domestic, agricultural and industrial purpose.