The Ganje water project
VALPOI
Falling water levels in the Khandepar River have prompted authorities to activate the diversion of water from the Mhadei River through the Ganje Water Project to keep the Opa Water Treatment Plant running without interruption.
With fears mounting over a further delay in the monsoon, large volumes of water are now being diverted as an emergency safeguard to prevent any shutdown of the crucial Opa project.
Since Opa supplies drinking water to several talukas, maintaining uninterrupted operations is considered essential. Keeping this in mind, the Irrigation Department has intensified efforts to divert water through the Ganje project.
According to information, a scheme to divert water from the Mhadei River into the Khandepar River was launched a few years ago. Every year during May, the water level in the Khandepar River decreases significantly. To address this issue, stored water from the Mhadei River is released into the Khandepar River through the project during this period.
A large quantity of water is stored in the barrage constructed at Ganje and is then diverted into the Khandepar River through pipelines. This helps maintain water flow in the river and ensures adequate supply to the Opa project.
Around three years ago, a high-capacity barrage project was constructed at Ganje at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 100 crore. Through this project, millions of litres of water are stored and released into the Khandepar River using pumps. Three high-capacity pumps have been installed for this purpose, out of which two are operated round the clock. In case one pump develops a fault, an alternative pump is immediately activated.
The diversion process is currently underway, and as a result, a slight reduction in the water level of the Mhadei River is reportedly being noticed. Officials have also kept arrangements ready to release additional water from upstream barrages if the water level at Ganje declines further in the coming days.
Meanwhile, concerns are being raised that large-scale diversion of water could impact other barrages in the Sattari taluka. If water levels at Ganje fall considerably, authorities may have to remove the shutters of upstream barrages to release more water, which could affect local agriculture and horticulture activities.
As a result, questions are now being raised at the local level about whether the Ganje Water Project will ultimately prove beneficial for Sattari taluka or create new challenges in the future.
