Lok Sabha Question No. 2978 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-12
Subject: Salinity in Water Bodies in Raigad
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Tatkare Sunil Dattatrey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2978

ANSWERED ON 12.12.2024

## SALINITY IN WATER BODIES IN RAIGAD

## †2978. SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  about  32,000  hectares  of  land  along  the  coast  and  creeks  have  become  saline which resulted in decline of crop yielding drastically due to broken bunds in some areas of Raigad district of Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is also a fact that the groundwater in the said areas has become unsuitable for irrigation due to salinity and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to restore the broken bunds in Raigad district to reduce the salinity in water bodies?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) & (b) Planning, funding, execution and maintenance of water resources projects, including construction and maintenance of bunds lies in the domain of the concerned State Governments. Role of Government  of  India  is  limited  to  providing  technical  support  and  in  some  cases,  partial  financial assistance under the existing schemes. However, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under this ministry generates ground water quality data of the country including Maharashtra state on a regional scale as part of its ground water quality monitoring program and various scientific studies.

Government of Maharashtra has informed that in Raigad district there are 165 saline embankments (Kharland  Bunds).  Out  of  these,  72  numbers  of  schemes  have  been  renovated  before  15  years.  Raigad district falls in heavy rainfall region and high tidal zone. Because of heavy rainfall in monsoon season and high spring tides, these old schemes have been severely eroded and deteriorated. Hence, there are frequent breaches of these schemes during heavy rainfall and high tide. But emergency repairs of these breached sections are immediately done with available funds to avoid intrusion of saline water in agricultural land.

During the year 2023-24, a total of 50 groundwater samples were collected by CGWB from Raigad district,  Maharashtra.  The  chemical  analysis  of  these  samples  indicates  that  two  samples  i.e.  Sukeli  and Dapoli from Roha block exhibited high electric conductivity (EC) of 3,864 and 19,200 μs/cm respectively; while, the remaining 48 samples recorded EC values below 1500 μS/cm.

Further,  suitability  of  ground  water  for  irrigation  not  only  depends  on  EC  but  also  depends  on Percent Sodium, Sodium absorption values, Residual Sodium Carbonate, Soil type and crop management practices.

(c) As a short term measure in order to protect area under Kharland bunds, the works are carried out by  the  Government  of  Maharashtra  at  the  places  where  there  is  disturbance  of  the  bunds  due  to  heavy rainfall  and  spring  tides.  As  long-term  measures, renovation of  Kharland bunds has been undertaken by Government of Maharashtra. Some of the recent interventions are as follows.

- i. Through  Maharashtra  State  fund,  5  schemes  (Kalai,  Burdi,  Jamrutkhar,  Tokekhar  and Warathi) have been renovated in year 2023-24 resulting in protection of 171 hectares of land. 8  schemes  to  protect  1,345  hectares  of  land  (Vadhav  Borze,  Mankule  Sonkotha  Hashivare, Wave  Potage,  Shenvai  Pahal,  Banumarium,  Kandalwada,  Kudgaon  Harvit  and  Khargaon Budruk) are ongoing.
- ii. Under  National  cyclone  risk  mitigation  program  (NCRMP),  renovation  of  two  kharland schemes (Narvel Benavale and Kachali Pitkari) has been completed in March 2024. Due to these two schemes, total 1,722 hectares area has been protected.
- iii. Through Maharashtra State fund, 6 schemes for protection of 1,728 hectare land (Shahabaj, Dhakatapada Shahapur, Manoranjan, Walake Satirde, Karanjavira and Mahadevkhar Mhalunge) have been sanctioned by Government of Maharashtra during 2023-24. In addition, Government  of  Maharashtra  has  sanctioned  14  schemes  during  2023-24  for  protection  of 1,735 hectare area under Konkan Disaster Mitigation (Konkan Package) Programme.

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