Konkan is that narrow and spectacular strip of land encompassing coastlines, estuaries, lateritic plateaus, foothills of Western Ghats and dense forests, which runs from Maharashtra to Goa. Bound by the Arabian Sea to its west and the mighty Sahyadri ranges (Western Ghats) to its east, the region has a distinct and rich culture of folklore, performing arts, music, literature, culinary art. Konkan, its temples, rivers and forests have an entire Sahyadrikand of the SkandPurana dedicated to it. Several poems and songs have been penned about the beauty, the mystery and the people of this region. Many of our celebrated singers, poets and authors come from Konkan. Community conservation practices that thrive here include some of the most pristine Sacred Groves, Temple Tanks, Fish Sanctuaries and sacred trees.
Konkan of Maharashtra, the subject matter of this report, consists of Greater Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg Districts, covering an area of 30,394 sq kms and running for about 720 kms. Of the 17,000 square kilometers area of Maharashtra Western Ghats, identified as ‘Eco Sensitive’ according to High Level Working Group Report on Western Ghats, majority falls in Konkan Division.
Konkan has a unique physiography with an undulating terrain and narrow coastal plains. It receives heavy rainfall from South West monsoons averaging to about 3000 mm. Elevation difference for a small width of about 50-60 kms ranges from mean sea level to over 1000 meters. Due to severe slopes, the drainage pattern is dense and dendritic, leading to poor groundwater recharge on slopes but good recharge in plains and valleys. Geological strata is composed of rocky basalt, lateritic plateaus, sandy coasts and small alluvial river mouths and valleys.
Konkan holds 22 river basins. All rivers that flow here originate in the Western Ghats and are swift and west flowing, with narrow, rocky basins, smaller catchments, shorter lengths and smaller estuaries as compared to their east flowing counterparts also originating from Sahaydris like Krishna and Godavari. Damanganga, Ulhas, Vaitarna, Savitri, Shastri, Gad, Karli, Terekhol etc., are some of the important rivers of Konkan. They are marked by rich biodiversity, dense forests and productive estuaries and they play an integral part in the social and cultural lives of the Konkanis.
Traditional water systems here revolve around groundwater from lateritic plateaus, hills streams and rivers. Due to quick runoff, swift, overflowing rivers of the monsoon dry up in the summer; range of groundwater fluctuation is also high. The region has several evolved traditional practices to utilize rainwater for irrigation and domestic use. The system of making “Paats” or irrigation channels off-taking from rivers, hills streams and groundwater zones exists till date.
As a result of its singular soil-rainfall-topography, agriculture in Konkan is different from the rest of Maharashtra. Traditional crops include paddy cultivated on terraces and millets like Ragi cultivated on slopes. Mainstay of agricultural economy is horticulture of Mango, Cashewnuts and kokam (Garcinia fruit). These have no specific irrigation needs and grow on slopes. Coconut and Arecanut plantations on the precious strips of plain land require water. In Rabi, region-specific pulses are grown on soil moisture and dew. Due to poor soils and hot weather, the region is not a leader in spices, coffee, tea or rubber. Migration from Konkan to Mumbai and other parts of the state has always been high and farm labour is difficult to find.
Due to several factors like a rugged undulating terrain, lateritic porous strata, poor soil, traditional crops which do not need irrigation, etc. Major Irrigation Projects and dams are rare in Konkan. This is despite the fact that Konkan gets 45% of the average annual yield of all rivers in the state! It is here that you find one of the oldest earthen dams in the state: the Dhamapur Dam in Sindhudurg, which still stands proud, not only irrigating plantations but providing drinking water to the entire Malvan city. Temple Tanks in Sindhudurg provide drinking water, irrigation and recharge groundwater.
Following the surge of dams in Maharashtra, several major and medium irrigation projects, drinking water supply and hydropower projects were proposed and developed in Konkan.
A reconnaissance of the current situation is disturbing. It indicates that despite spending more than Rs 6,000 Crores in building these dams for decades, not a single Major or Medium irrigation project has been completed in Konkan till date by Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC). Actual Irrigation Potential created is less than 25%, of which less than one percent is actually used by people for irrigation, for projects tested by CAG
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