Water grid to quench Marathwada's thirst

The Maharashtra government will develop a 1,330 km water grid for the parched Marathwada region by applying the hybrid annuity model (HMA) which is currently adopted in the roads and highways sector.

The government has firmed up a comprehensive plan worth Rs 25,000 crore for the proposed water grid under which water from dams and other reservoirs will be supplied through pipelines to all villages in the scarcity-hit region.

State cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday cleared the first phase worth Rs 4,293 crore which will be implemented in Aurangabad and Jalna districts. The government will lay the main and secondary pipelines booster pumps and water purification network. The government will soon invite request for qualification (RFQ) for the same.

In the first phase, 11 major dams in Marathwada will be connected with the grid of pipelines. In Aurangabad district 737 km and in Jalna 458.29 km of pipelines will be laid down in the first phase.

Under the HAM the developer will have to arrange 60% of funds while 40% will be provided by the government. The 40% amount will be given during the construction period on instalments (based on the percentage of construction completed) and the rest of the amount will be given after the project completion. Advantage of HAM is that it gives enough liquidity to the developer and the financial risk is shared by the government. The government proposes to develop the water grid on the pattern of Gujarat or Telangana water grid projects.

Major dams, including Jayakwadi, Majalgaon, Lower Dudhna, Yeldari, Vishnupuri, Manjara, Mannar and Sidhdheshwar along with several medium and minor irrigation projects cater to the Marathwada region. Scanty rainfall in last few consecutive years has left many dams dry. The creation of the Marathwada water grid was discussed at the special Cabinet meeting held in Aurangabad in 2016. The government had signed MoU with the Israel based Mekorot to prepare various reports on the development of water grid.

Pradeep Purandare, water expert said HAM appears to be a variant of public-private partnership.

''If a developer invests money, he will naturally expect returns on his investment. Not only that he may eventually try to influence water entitlements, priorities of water distribution and tariff. This decision would formally introduce and institutionalise privatization of water which would be dangerous to water users in every sector. We need to be cautious,'' he opined.