Parliament Question: Diversion of River Water

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3243 ANSWERED ON 12.03.2026 DIVERSION OF RIVER WATER †3243. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether the Godavari basin in Shirdi Lok Sabha Constituency in Maharashtra includes the major rivers such as Godavari, Mula, Pravara, Mhalungi and Adhala which originate from the Sahyadri mountain ranges and if so, the details thereof; and (b) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any steps to prepare a comprehensive action plan to divert the water flowing westwards on the banks of the Sahyadri mountain range in the Godavari basin of this region to the east at the central level and to implement it expeditiously and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) Yes, the Godavari basin in the Shirdi Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra encompasses several important rivers that originate in the Sahyadri (Western Ghats) mountain ranges. These include the Godavari, Mula, Pravara, Mhalungi, and Adhala rivers. These rivers form part of the upper catchment of the Godavari system and contribute significantly to the hydrology of the basin in this region. (b) The Government of India has formulated the National Perspective Plan (NPP) under which 30 Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects have been identified to address water scarcity and augment irrigation facilities across the country. The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has been entrusted with implementing the ILR projects under the NPP. NWDA has examined various inter-basin transfer possibilities in the Western Ghats region as part of national water balance studies. Further, the Government of Maharashtra has submitted 20 intra-State river link proposals to NWDA for technical studies. NWDA has prepared Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) for all these link proposals and submitted them to the State Government. Among these, the North Konkan–Godavari Valley Project, the Damanganga (Ekdare)–Godavari (Waghad) Link, and the Damanganga–Vaitarna–Godavari Link pertain to the Shirdi Lok Sabha Constituency. Subsequently, at the request of the Government of Maharashtra, NWDA has prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the Damanganga (Ekdare)–Godavari (Waghad) Link and the Damanganga–Vaitarna– Godavari Link on consultancy basis. Both DPRs have been completed and submitted to the Government of Maharashtra in March 2025. As per the PFR of the North Konkan–Godavari Valley Project, the proposal was assessed as infeasible. *****