Centre plans to link rivers to manage drought in Maha: Min

Government plans to link Bhima and Manjara rivers in Maharashtra to tackle water crisis situation in drought-hit Marathwada region of the state in the long-run, Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday.

Union Minister of State for Water Resources Sanwar Lal Jat said this in response to queries on the action the Centre is taking to figure long-term solutions for water shortage in Marathwada and Bundelkhand regions.

“The long-term measures in Marathawada, inter alia, include interlinking of Bhima and Manjara rivers,” he said.

Jat said, as part of the government’s efforts, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has prioritised Bundelkhand and parts of Marathwada for aquifer mapping and management program. The CGWB had in 2013 prepared a conceptual document titled ‘Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India’.