Nashik: Centre Gives Green Signal To Nar-Par-Girna River Linking Project, To Benefit 49,516 Hectares
Nashik: The proposed Nar-Par-Girna River Linking Project, considered important for strengthening irrigation and water availability in Nashik and Jalgaon districts, has received a major push at the central level. The project aims to divert water from the west-flowing Nar, Par and Auranga river basins towards the Girna basin, thereby providing irrigation benefits to drought-prone areas of Nashik…
The central government has given its approval to the Nar-Par-Girna River Linking Project, a significant initiative aimed at enhancing irrigation and water availability in the Nashik and Jalgaon districts. This project involves diverting water from the Nar, Par and Auranga river basins, which flow westwards, towards the Girna basin, benefiting drought-prone areas in Nashik and Jalgaon.
The Maharashtra government has already provided administrative clearance, and the project is expected to cost around ₹7,465 crore, with 49,516 hectares of land in the two districts set to benefit from the irrigation improvements.
The project plan envisions constructing nine dams, a network of tunnels and conveyance systems, and other necessary infrastructure to transport water from the western river basins to the Girna sub-basin. Around 10.64 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic meters) of water from the Nar-Par-Girna river basin is proposed to be utilized under the approved project plan.
Major works, estimated at approximately ₹4,116 crore, are currently underway through the tendering process, signaling the shift from planning and approvals to the implementation phase.
The project's significance lies in its inter-basin river-linking nature, a concept previously explored by the National Water Development Agency through a pre-feasibility report. However, the current proposal is based on a revised project plan developed by the Maharashtra government. As several statutory permissions are required for full-scale implementation, the central-level clearances are crucial. The project must also comply with applicable environmental and forest regulations.
The primary objective of the Nar-Par-Girna River Linking Project is to utilize excess water from the western parts of Nashik, diverting it to areas often facing water shortages. Upon successful completion, this project is expected to boost irrigation across nearly 49,516 hectares, thereby strengthening agricultural activity and providing greater water security to farmers in Nashik and Jalgaon.
With the administrative approvals and implementation processes now in motion, the project holds promise for the drought-prone communities in North Maharashtra.
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