Devendra Fadnavis's Vision To Fight Farmer Suicides
Unpredictable rainfall, poor infrastructure, and unequal water distribution are making the acute water situation in maharashtra, India's Marathwada area worse. Water shortage is more than just a problem for the largely rural populace; it poses a danger to lives, livelihoods, and financial security.
In Marathwada, water shortage is a significant social and economic burden rather than just a practical one. Unreliable water supplies result in lost harvests and unsustainable debt, trapping people in cycles of poverty and loss in rural communities that rely heavily on agriculture.
Maharashtra is responsible for 38% of all farmer suicides in India, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
There were 60,750 farmer suicides between 1995 and 2013, with an average of around 3,700 suicides per year between 2004 and 2013—roughly 10 suicides every day. Many farmers are in despair due to the persistent problems of crop failures, water scarcity, and the ensuing financial strain.
Under his direction, the Marathwada Water Grid Project was developed in 2019 as a game-changing idea to provide a sustainable water distribution system throughout the area that is prone to drought.
Beyond merely supplying water, the project's strategic design presents a sustainable paradigm that aims to eliminate the need for emergency measures by guaranteeing fair distribution and enhancing resistance to future droughts.
Fadnavis was the first maharashtra chief minister to work toward a comprehensive, long-term solution to the dire water issue in Marathwada. But Fadnavis's tenure ended soon after the project was announced in 2019, which led to a leadership transition.
Marathwada Water Grid Project Plan
With a network of massive pipelines that range in diameter from 1.6 to 2.4 meters, the project intends to connect 11 significant dams throughout the area.
By creating a main loop between the reservoirs, this system will allow water to be pumped from dams with surplus water to others with less.
The water grid will employ pump buildings and pipes to move water from well-supplied reservoirs to treatment facilities, and then to water-scarce talukas that require urgent assistance. It is intended to operate similarly to a power grid.
Project Revival in 2022
Fadnavis's return as deputy chief minister in 2022 gave the project new impetus and demonstrated the political commitment required for such ambitious projects.
The maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) received the proposal in 2023. In order to guarantee fair water distribution throughout the state, this quasi-judicial authority was founded.
The Mahayuti government, led by chief minister Eknath Shinde and fadnavis, requested Rs 20,000 crore in funding from the central government to finance this project and the Marathwada Water Grid. Additionally, the administration has applied for financial aid from global organizations such as the World Bank.
Reviving village Water Bodies
The Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan (Water-Filled Land Program), an ambitious grassroots water conservation initiative, was started in 2014 under former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Its main goal is to address rural water scarcity by establishing local, sustainable water sources in maharashtra communities.
In many drought-affected communities, where large-scale irrigation projects are frequently impractical, the program's emphasis on small-scale solutions has had a noticeable impact.
The following are important components of the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan:
• To improve flow and water retention, small water streams might be connected to bigger bodies.
• Constructing cement bunds and percolation tanks to collect and hold rainfall.
• De-silting cement lining and water bodies to make sure long-term water retention.
Bringing Irrigation to North Maharashtra
The Mahayuti-led administration is leading the massive Nar-Par-Girna project, a river-linking endeavor designed to alleviate North Maharashtra's water scarcity.
The project, which has a budget of Rs 7,015 crore, aims to move 10.64 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of excess water from the Nar Par Girna river basin to regions in the districts of Nashik and Jalgaon that are vulnerable to drought.
The building of nine additional dams to aid in water capture and redistribution is a distinctive characteristic of the Nar-Par-Girna project. The project intends to stabilize water supply and boost agricultural output in the northern parts of maharashtra by rerouting excess water from the west-flowing rivers in the state.
Tembhu Lift Irrigation Project
One of the most important ways to deal with water constraint in Maharashtra's agricultural heartlands is through lift irrigation programs. One such project, the Tembhu Lift Irrigation Project, aims to improve irrigation in the Satara district, especially in regions with inadequate groundwater supplies.
The main objective of the project, which is situated on the krishna River, is to use an advanced water-lifting mechanism to provide water to agricultural areas that are vulnerable to drought.
Supporting Agriculture in pune District
One significant initiative to assist farmers in the pune district is the Purandar Lift Irrigation Scheme (PLIS), which is run by the maharashtra krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC).
The project's goal is to supply a sustainable supply of water for regional agriculture by irrigating around 25,000 hectares of farmland in the taluks of Haveli, Purandar, Daund, and Baramati.
The PLIS system uses a network of pipes with widths ranging from 2000 to 2200 mm to move water across 12.5 kilometers while raising water from the Mula River in four phases. By lifting water around 260 meters, this method makes irrigation possible for fields at even higher elevations.
In Marathwada, water shortage is a significant social and economic burden rather than just a practical one. Unreliable water supplies result in lost harvests and unsustainable debt, trapping people in cycles of poverty and loss in rural communities that rely heavily on agriculture.
Maharashtra is responsible for 38% of all farmer suicides in India, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
There were 60,750 farmer suicides between 1995 and 2013, with an average of around 3,700 suicides per year between 2004 and 2013—roughly 10 suicides every day. Many farmers are in despair due to the persistent problems of crop failures, water scarcity, and the ensuing financial strain.
Under his direction, the Marathwada Water Grid Project was developed in 2019 as a game-changing idea to provide a sustainable water distribution system throughout the area that is prone to drought.
Beyond merely supplying water, the project's strategic design presents a sustainable paradigm that aims to eliminate the need for emergency measures by guaranteeing fair distribution and enhancing resistance to future droughts.
Fadnavis was the first maharashtra chief minister to work toward a comprehensive, long-term solution to the dire water issue in Marathwada. But Fadnavis's tenure ended soon after the project was announced in 2019, which led to a leadership transition.
Marathwada Water Grid Project Plan
With a network of massive pipelines that range in diameter from 1.6 to 2.4 meters, the project intends to connect 11 significant dams throughout the area.
By creating a main loop between the reservoirs, this system will allow water to be pumped from dams with surplus water to others with less.
The water grid will employ pump buildings and pipes to move water from well-supplied reservoirs to treatment facilities, and then to water-scarce talukas that require urgent assistance. It is intended to operate similarly to a power grid.
Project Revival in 2022
Fadnavis's return as deputy chief minister in 2022 gave the project new impetus and demonstrated the political commitment required for such ambitious projects.
The maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) received the proposal in 2023. In order to guarantee fair water distribution throughout the state, this quasi-judicial authority was founded.
The Mahayuti government, led by chief minister Eknath Shinde and fadnavis, requested Rs 20,000 crore in funding from the central government to finance this project and the Marathwada Water Grid. Additionally, the administration has applied for financial aid from global organizations such as the World Bank.
Reviving village Water Bodies
The Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan (Water-Filled Land Program), an ambitious grassroots water conservation initiative, was started in 2014 under former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Its main goal is to address rural water scarcity by establishing local, sustainable water sources in maharashtra communities.
In many drought-affected communities, where large-scale irrigation projects are frequently impractical, the program's emphasis on small-scale solutions has had a noticeable impact.
The following are important components of the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan:
• To improve flow and water retention, small water streams might be connected to bigger bodies.
• Constructing cement bunds and percolation tanks to collect and hold rainfall.
• De-silting cement lining and water bodies to make sure long-term water retention.
Bringing Irrigation to North Maharashtra
The Mahayuti-led administration is leading the massive Nar-Par-Girna project, a river-linking endeavor designed to alleviate North Maharashtra's water scarcity.
The project, which has a budget of Rs 7,015 crore, aims to move 10.64 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of excess water from the Nar Par Girna river basin to regions in the districts of Nashik and Jalgaon that are vulnerable to drought.
The building of nine additional dams to aid in water capture and redistribution is a distinctive characteristic of the Nar-Par-Girna project. The project intends to stabilize water supply and boost agricultural output in the northern parts of maharashtra by rerouting excess water from the west-flowing rivers in the state.
Tembhu Lift Irrigation Project
One of the most important ways to deal with water constraint in Maharashtra's agricultural heartlands is through lift irrigation programs. One such project, the Tembhu Lift Irrigation Project, aims to improve irrigation in the Satara district, especially in regions with inadequate groundwater supplies.
The main objective of the project, which is situated on the krishna River, is to use an advanced water-lifting mechanism to provide water to agricultural areas that are vulnerable to drought.
Supporting Agriculture in pune District
One significant initiative to assist farmers in the pune district is the Purandar Lift Irrigation Scheme (PLIS), which is run by the maharashtra krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC).
The project's goal is to supply a sustainable supply of water for regional agriculture by irrigating around 25,000 hectares of farmland in the taluks of Haveli, Purandar, Daund, and Baramati.
The PLIS system uses a network of pipes with widths ranging from 2000 to 2200 mm to move water across 12.5 kilometers while raising water from the Mula River in four phases. By lifting water around 260 meters, this method makes irrigation possible for fields at even higher elevations.