Magazine 2014
International Peer-Reviewed Journal
RESEARCH HORIZONS, VOL. 4 JULY 2014
THE REGIONAL IRRIGATION SCENARIO IN MAHARASHTRA
Veena Devasthali
ABSTRACT
The irrigation scenario in Maharashtra has been under media focus for quite some time. The present
paper traces the development of irrigation in Maharashtra state since its inception. The development
of irrigation at the state level as well as across the regional divisions has been discussed. The focus
of the paper is on the vast disparity in the irrigation potential created and the actual area irrigated. It
also highlights the development of irrigation in terms of major, medium and minor irrigation projects
across regional divisions. The paper raises some issues of concern for the future policy measures.
Keywords : Irrigation , development, disparity , regional divisions
Introduction
The irrigation scenario in Maharashtra has been the focus of the media for a fairly long period of time.
Given the current political climate in the state it also appears that it is going to continue to be so for
quite some time. This is an attempt to explore the regional aspects of the irrigation sector in the state.
Historical Background
The Maharashtra state came into existence in 1960. Soon after the inception the First Irrigation
Commission was appointed by the Maharashtra government. The First Commission estimated that
only 30 % of the cultivable area could be brought under irrigation. It was also recommended by the
Commission that this should be done by 1980. However by 1980 approximately only 17% of the
cultivable area was brought under irrigation. The Second Irrigation Commission was appointed in
1
995. In 1997 the Commission was renamed as the Second Water and Irrigation Commission. The
Second Commission estimated that nearly 85 lakh ha i.e. 40% of the cultivable area could be
brought under irrigation.
Development of Irrigation – State Level and Across Regional Divisions
ꢂ
State Level Scenario : 1961 – 2010
The development of irrigation in the state in the past five decades has been presented in Table 1.
Table 1 : Creation of Irrigation Potential in Maharashtra : 1961 – 2010
(
Lakh ha)
Time Period
Irrigation Potential Created
Cumulative Irrigation Potential Created
1
1
1
1
1
2
961*
-
03.98
07.18
17.30
26.25
37.69
47.37
961-1969*
969-1980*
980-1990*
990-2001**
001-2010**
03.20
10.12
08.95
11.44
09.65
Source : * Compiled from Five Year Plans of GoM
* Compiled from Irrigation Status Report, Department of Irrigation, GoM,
September2011
*
From Table 1 it is clear that by 2010 the total irrigation potential created was 47.37 lakh ha. This
accounts for approximately 22 % of the cultivable area of the state. In other words the irrigation potential
created does not cover even one fourth of the cultivable area. The progress in the creation of irrigation
has not been uniform over the past five decades. In the first decade the irrigation potential created was
only 3.20 lakh ha. However in the successive decades there was considerable increase in the same
though with fluctuations from decade to decade.
ꢂ
Regional Scenario : 2001 – 2010
The development of irrigation sector across the regional divisions reveals a very interesting picture.
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International Peer-Reviewed Journal
RESEARCH HORIZONS, VOL. 4 JULY 2014
Table 2 : Regional Development : 2001 and 2010
Lakh ha(%)
Year Konkan Nashik Pune
Aurangabad
8.5
Amaravati Nagpur
Maharashtra
37.7
2
001 0.7
6.5
13.8
3.4
4.8
(
1.9)
(17.2)
9.7
(36.6)
15.4
(22.6)
(9.0)
4.7
(12.7)
6.1
(100.0)
47.4
2
010 1.0
10.5
(
2.1)
(20.3)
(32.3)
(22.0)
(9.9)
(12.8)
(100.0)
Source : Compiled from Irrigation Status Report, Department of Irrigation, GoM,
September 2011
It can be seen from Table 2 that the regional development of the irrigation sector has been rather
uneven. The irrigation potential in 2001 was highest (36.6) in Pune division. This was followed by
Aurangabad division (22.6%) and Nashik division (17.2%) respectively. Though Pune division accounted
for the largest potential in 2010 as well its share in the total potential declined to 32.3% in 2010. Though
Aurangabad and Nashik divisions followed Pune division again in 2010 there was a change in their
shares in 2010. While the share of Aurangabad division declined marginally to 22 % there was significant
increase in the share of Nashik division from 17.2 % to 20.3%. All three divisions together accounted
for 76.8% of the total irrigation potential created in 2001 and 74.6% in 2010 respectively. The remaining
three divisions vizAmaravati, Nagpur and Konkan though recorded an increase in the irrigation potential
created, together they accounted for 23% and 25% of the irrigation potential in 2001 and 2010
respectively. The share of Konkan division was the lowest in 2001 as well as 2010.
The yearly changes in the creation of irrigation potential of all the divisions is presented in Table 3. This
brings out the variations in the creation of the irrigation potential across the divisions in a clear manner.
Table 3 : Regional Development : 2001 – 2010
(
Lakh ha)
Year
Konkan Nashik Pune Aurangabad
Amaravati Nagpur Maharashtra
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
001
002
003
004
005
006
007
008
009
010
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.9
1.0
6.5
6.6
6.6
6.6
6.7
6.8
7.2
7.4
9.5
9.7
3.2
13.8
13.9
14.3
14.6
15.1
15.6
16.3
16.6
15.1
15.4
1.6
8.5
8.6
8.6
8.7
8.8
9.1
9.5
9.8
10.2
10.5
2.0
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.8
3.9
4.1
4.3
4.6
4.7
1.3
4.8
4.8
4.8
4.8
4.8
5.1
5.4
5.8
6.0
6.1
1.3
37.7
38.1
38.6
39.1
40.0
41.3
43.3
44.8
46.3
47.4
9.7
2
001-2010 0.3
Source : Irrigation Status Report, Department of Irrigation, GoM, September 2011
It can be seen from Table 3 that the regional development of the irrigation sector has been rather
uneven. During 2001-2010 the total irrigation potential created was 9.7 lakh ha. The creation of potential
was highest for Nashik division (3.2 lakh ha) followed by Aurangabad division (2.0 lakh ha) and Pune
division (1.6 lakh ha). The potential created in both Amaravati and Nagpur divisions was 1.3 lakh ha
each. The Konkan division accounted for the lowest potential in the state. It was 0.3 lakh ha.
The regional picture of this decade however reveals an interesting picture. The overall irrigation potential
of Pune division was consistently highest throughout this decade. The next two divisions were
Aurangabad and Nashik divisions. There was hardly any addition to the irrigation potential in Nagpur
division during the first half of the decade. The addition to the irrigation potential was observed from
the year 2006 onwards. Amaravati division like other divisions recorded small but consistent addition.
The addition to the irrigation potential in Konkan division throughout this decade was small and not
consistent.
The extent of cultivable area, irrigation potential and irrigated area across the regional divisions as on
th
3
0 June,2010has been presented in Table 4.
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International Peer-Reviewed Journal
RESEARCH HORIZONS, VOL. 4 JULY 2014
th
Table 4 :Cultivable Area, Irrigation Potential and Irrigated Area – 30 June 2010
Lakh ha (%)
Regional Division Cultivable Area
Creation of Irrigation Potential
00.98 (2)
Irrigated Area
00.12 (0.4)
05.28 (18)
14.63 (50)
04.35 (15)
01.83 (6)
Konkan
15.4 (7)
Nashik
40.0 (19)
43.1 (20)
56.5 (26)
43.8 (21)
23.3 (11)
211.99 (100)
09.67 (20)
Pune
15.41 (32)
Aurangabad
Amaravati
Nagpur
10.51 (22)
04.67 (9)
06.10 (12)
03.34 (11)
29.55 (100)
Maharashtra
47.37 (100)
Source : Same as Table 2
The largest cultivable area (26%) in the state was in Aurangabad division. This was followed by three
divisions vizAmaravati (21%), Pune (20%) and Nashik (19%) divisions. Nagpur division and Konkan
division accounted for only 11 % and 7 % of the cultivable area respectively. However the creation of
irrigation potential doesn’t reflect the same pattern. The highest potential i.e. 32 % was created in Pune
division. This was followed by Aurangabad division (22%) and Nashik division (20%). Despite having
21% of the total cultivable area in the state the creation of irrigation potential in Amaravati division was
only 9%. The extent of irrigation potential created in Nagpur and Konkan divisions was 12% and 2 %
respectively.
The differences are even more pronounced in case of actual irrigated area. The total irrigated area at the
state level is 29.55 lakh ha. Out of the total irrigated area Pune division accounted for 50 % of the area.
The next two divisions vizNashik and Aurangabad together accounted for only 18% and 15% of the
irrigated area respectively. Both these divisions together accounted for less irrigated area than Pune
division. The irrigated area of Nagpur division was 11% and that of Konkan division was just o.4%. What
is however very alarming is that the area brought under irrigation in Amaravati division is only 6%. In
terms of both the creation of irrigation potential and the actual irrigated area this division has suffered
from the uneven development.
Table 5 :Extent of the Utilisation of Irrigation Potential
Regional
Division
Creation of Irrigation
Potential as on 30 June
Irrigated Area
2010-2011(Lakh ha) Irrigated Area
to Potential Created (%)
Percentage of
th
2
010 (Lakh ha)
Konkan
00.98
09.67
15.41
10.51
04.67
06.10
47.37
0.12
5.28
14.63
4.35
1.83
3.34
29.55
12
Nashik
54
95
41
39
55
62
Pune
Aurangabad
Amaravati
Nagpur
Maharashtra
Source : Same as Table 2
The utilisation of the irrigation potential created within each region was also rather uneven (Table 5).
The utilisation at the state level was 62 %. However there are glaring regional imbalances. The
performance of only Pune division was well above the average state level. It was 95% for Pune division.
No other division comes anywhere near Pune division. The performance of all the other divisions
ranges between 12 % for Konkan division to 55% for Nagpur division and 54% for Nashik division.
The scenario in terms of the performance of major, medium and minor projects also reveals a very
interesting pattern.
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International Peer-Reviewed Journal
RESEARCH HORIZONS, VOL. 4 JULY 2014
Table 6 :Regional Divisions – Types of Projects
(
No.)
Regional Division Major
Medium Minor
Total
193
594
839
1064
415
Konkan
04
16
23
11
11
14
79
09
45
180
533
770
973
381
411
3248
Nashik
Pune
46
80
Aurangabad
Amaravati
Nagpur
23
45
470
3575
Maharashtra
248
Source : Same as Table 2
The largest number of total projects were in Aurangabad division This was closely followed by Pune
division. Pune division accounted for the largest number of major projects whereas largest number of
medium and minor projects were in Aurangabad division. The number of all types of projects was the
lowest in the Konkan division.
Table 7 : Major Projects – Creation of Irrigation Potential and Irrigated Area
Regional
Division
Number of Creation of
IrrigatedArea Percentage of
Projects
Irrigation Potential
– 2010-2011
irrigated area
as on 30th June 2010 (Lakh ha)
to creation of
(
Lakh ha)
irrigation potential (%)
Konkan
Nashik
Pune
04
16
23
00.52
04.86
10.61
05.33
01.91
03.09
26.32
00.04
30.13
10.91
02.85
00.65
01.75
19.33
07.69
64.40
102.83
53.47
34.03
56.63
73.44
Aurangabad 11
Amaravati
Nagpur
11
14
Maharashtra 79
Source : Same as Table 2
The largest number of major projects were in Pune division. This division had 23 major projects. This
was followed by Nashik division with 16 and Nagpur division with 14 major projects. There were 11
projects each in Aurangabad and Amaravati divisions and only four projects in Konkan division.There
were variations in terms of the utilisation of the irrigation potential created. At the state level the extent
of utilisation by way of major projects was73%. The extent of utilisation was highest for Pune division.
In no other division the extent of utilisation was above that of the average of the state.
Table 8 : Medium Projects – Creation of Irrigation Potential and Irrigated Area
Regional
Division
Number of Creation of Irrigation
Irrigated Area Percentage of
Projects
Potentialas on
2010-2011
(Lakh ha)
irrigated area to
creation of irrigation
potential
th
30 June 2010
(
Lakh ha)
Konkan
9
o.17
2.11
1.91
1.69
1.23
1.35
8.46
0.09
1.30
1.24
0.60
0.50
0.81
4.54
52.94
61.61
64.92
35.50
40.65
60.00
52.84
Nashik
45
46
80
23
45
248
Pune
Aurangabad
Amaravati
Nagpur
Maharashtra
Source : Same as Table 2
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RESEARCH HORIZONS, VOL. 4 JULY 2014
There are variations in terms of the number of medium projects as well across the regional divisions.
The highest number of medium projects were in Aurangabad division.This was followed by Pune
division with 46 projects and Nashik and Nagpur divisions each with 45 projects. Amaravati and
Konkan divisions accounted for 23 and nine projects respectively. Overall utilisation of the potential
of the state was 52.84% which was lower than that of the major projects. Despite having largest
number of projects in Aurangabad division in terms of the utilisation of potential created the
performance was not good. It recorded the lowest performance. The performance of Amaravati
division was also lower than the average state level performance. The highest performance again
was that of Pune division which was 64.92% but the performance of Nashik and Nagpur divisions
was also significant i.e. 61.61% and 60% respectively. The performance of Konkan division was
similar to that of the average state performance.
Table 9 : Minor Projects – Creation of Irrigation Potential and Irrigated Area
Regional
Divisions
Number of
Projects
Creation of
Irrigation
Irrigated Area –
2010-2011
(Lakh ha)
Percentage of
Irrigated AreaTo
Creation of
Potential as on
th
30
June 2010
Irrigation
(
Lakh ha)
Potential (%)
Konkan
180
533
770
973
381
411
3248
0.29
2.73
2.90
3.49
1.53
1.67
12.59
0.08
0.84
2.48
0.90
0.68
0.77
5.75
27.59
30.77
85.52
25.79
44.44
46.11
45.67
Nashik
Pune
Aurangabad
Amaravati
Nagpur
Maharashtra
Source : Same as Table 2
The creation of irrigation potential and the irrigated area by way of minor projects accounted for 12.59
lakh ha and 5.76 lakh ha respectively. The overall utilisation at the state level was 45.67%. Inthis case
also Pune division recorded highest utilisation i.e. 85.52%. Though there were largest number of minor
projects in Aurangabad division the extent of utilisation was just 25.79% which was even lower than
that of Konkan division.The performance of Nashik division (30%) was also below that of the average
performance of the state. The utilisation of Nagpur division (46%) was a little above and that of Amaravati
division (44%) was a little below that of the average state performance.
IV Issues of Concern
The ultimate irrigation potential of the state is 85 lakh ha. The potential created is 47.37 lakh ha and the
irrigated area is 29.55 lakh ha. It has taken nearly five decades to create and utilise this potential. How
long will it take to create the potential for the remaining 37.63 lakh ha and how much longer will it take
to utilise the created potential ? The state has a long way to go to improve the utilisation of the
potential created so far. The development of irrigation sector is far from uniform. It is necessary to
improve the regional balance in terms of both the creation of potential and the utilisation of the same.
It has been estimated that only 40% of the cultivable area can be brought under irrigation. There is also
an urgent need to explore the alternatives for the remaining 60% of the cultivable area which is not
likely to be brought under the irrigation.
References
GoM : Five Year Plans
GoM (2011) : Irrigation Status Report, Department of Irrigation, September 2011
Dr. Veena Devasthali : Associate Professor, P. G. Dept. of Economics, SNDT Women’s University,
Mumbai
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