Dr. Narpat Singh Rathore
Department of Geography, College of Social Sciences & Humanities, Mohanlal Sukhadia University,Udaipur – 313 001 (Raj.) India
Fax : + 91 294 2415200
Phone: +91 294 2426548 (R), +91 294 2414707 (O), E-mail : [email protected]
Abstract
In the proposed plan the main focus is to harness the water resources potential of Perennial River flowing in the Himalayan region in order to irrigate the Western desert part of India. During the rainy season large amount of floodwater is available in Himachal Himalaya and Uttaranchal areas. This water can be diverted without lifting to the arid and semi arid region of Rajasthan and Gujarat states and also utilizes the water for irrigation proposes. With the implementation of proposed Maru-Ganga project, the above objective can be achieved, which would initiate multitudinist development and uplifting the socio-economic status of the region. The significance of the plan could be compared to the status of the Kaveri River in south India and Nile River in Egypt. After implementation of this plan, the rivers of North India will be linked with Southern India rivers through Rajasthan desert with help of newly identified Satlus, Ghaggar, Yamuna, Jojari, Luni and Sabarmati link Maru-Ganga Channel. Desert soil area linked with fertile black soil region of Southern India through this new plan. To complete the proposed plan it will be possible only with the help of special financial assistance from the World Bank in three stages. In first stage Ghaggar channel, in second stage Yamuna channel and finally the third stage Sabarmati link channel can be made and complete the whole plan. After that the Western India will be largest food grain producing and irrigated area of the world. This New River channel will join Himalayas, Desert and sea. In the 21st century the important event will take place if joining of these three major geographical regions of Indian sub-continent by the new identified channel. With the implementation of the proposed project about 15 lakh hectare of land would come under irrigation and increasing food grain production to 25 lakh tons. About 5 lakh hectare Land would get converted into pastures and grazing land. In an area of about 60,000 sq.kms. The ground water level would rise to higher level. The present investigation was carried out with the help of Remote Sensing Technique with limited ground truth and SOI sheet on a scale of 1:1,25,000 were used for mapping.
