Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has taken a significant step towards solving the water scarcity issue in the alluvial area of Akola, Amravati, and Buldhana districts in Maharashtra. With the inauguration of a sweet water pilot project in Borala village, Amravati district, Gadkari aims to provide fresh water to farmers and residents, overcoming the challenges posed by saltwater intrusion. The project, inspired by Union Minister Doctor Anil Bonde, aims to revolutionize water availability and irrigation in the region.
Overcoming Saltwater Problem with Sweet Water Pilot Project
To tackle the saltwater problem and ensure access to fresh water, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the sweet water pilot project in Borala, Daryapur taluka of Amravati district. The project has been implemented with the inspiration of Union Minister Doctor Anil Bonde and the guidance of MP Navneet Ravi Rana. The project will have a significant impact on 894 villages in the Amravati, Akola, and Buldhana districts, enabling them to access fresh water from a depth of just 50 feet underground.
The Dilution Solution: How the Project Works
The Borala pilot project utilizes the principle of “Dilution is the solution for all types of Pollution.” A dam is being constructed on a drain in Borala village, which will store approximately 94 million liters of fresh rainwater. By extracting around 3 crore liters of saltwater from the first sand layer, 9 crore liters of water will be retained in the dam, and the remaining 3 crore liters will seep into the sand layer.
Benefits and Impact of the Project
The Borala pilot project is expected to bring about numerous benefits and positively impact the region:
- Perennial Irrigation: The project will provide perennial irrigation to 40 hectares (100 acres) of land, ensuring a steady water supply for agriculture. With the introduction of drip irrigation techniques, the project’s reach can be expanded to cover 200 acres of land.
- Low Costs and Minimal Disruption: The project requires no large-scale land acquisition, migration, or resettlement, resulting in low implementation costs. It offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution to the water scarcity problem.
- Drinking Water and Agricultural Abundance: The project will permanently resolve the drinking water problem in the brackish water belt villages and ensure an abundant supply of fresh water for agricultural activities. Villagers will no longer face water shortages, even in years with less rainfall.
- Flood Control: The project will help decrease the intensity of floods in the Purna River, mitigating the risks associated with heavy rainfall and contributing to better water management in the region.
- Soil Fertility and Economic Opportunities: The project will yield black soil, which can be used to fertilize farmers’ land, enhancing agricultural productivity. The yellow soil can be utilized for constructing village roads, farm roads, and shivaras. Additionally, the water stored in the project can facilitate fish farming, providing an additional source of income for farmers.
- Scaling Up the Project: Nitin Gadkari envisions constructing 940 similar dams across 4,69,200 hectares of the brackish water belt in the Akola, Amravati, and Buldhana districts. This extensive network of dams would ensure abundant perennial fresh water for approximately 4,60,600 hectares of land.
