Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance| Indian Geography

Why in news?

Recently Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 2025, to implement the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project.

• The long pending agreement was finalized during a meeting of the Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra Inter-State Control Board in Bhopal.

• Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project - The project involves constructing three canals in the Tapti River, to address the draught of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• Objective - The project channels river water into the soil and underground aquifers to raise groundwater levels and help farmers access water through wells and borewells.
• Funding - The central government will fund 90% of the project cost.
  • The remaining 10% will be shared by the state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
• Canals - Three canals that are constructed in Tapti River to divert water are,
  • Right Bank Canal (MP)
  • Left Bank Canal (MP)
  • Left Bank Canal (Maharashtra)
• Water allocation - Annually 31.13 thousand Million Cubic Feet (TMC) is diverted and shared between as,
  • Madhya Pradesh - 11.76 TMC
  • Maharashtra - 19.36 TMC
• Significance - It will address water needs in North Eastern Maharashtra (including Nagpur) and provide irrigation support to Southern and South Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• The Jamghat Project, part of this initiative, will ensure water supply for Nagpur city for the next 30-40 years.
• It will boost irrigation for Vidarbha and North Maharashtra.
• Environmentally friendly - By adopting a groundwater recharge approach instead of traditional reservoir methods, the project minimizes environmental impact and avoids displacement of communities.

References

1. The New Indian Express| Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project
2. The Hindu| MP Maharashtra ink MoU for Tapti Basin Project