Madhya Pradesh: Rivers, lakes and dams

Many of central India's rivers rise in Madhya Pradesh. The Narmada and the Sone both originate at Amarkantak, the Central Highlands drain north to the Yamuna, and the Malwa plateau forms the water divide between the Ganga and Narmada basins. Irrigation in the state is mostly dependent on major rivers like the Narmada, Chambal, Tapti, Betwa, Sone, Shipra, Kali Sindh and Tava.

Rivers that rise in the state

• The Water Resources Department's list of rivers that originate in M.P. names Narmada, Mahi, Chambal, Betwa, Son, Tons, Tapti, Ken, Dhasan, Kunwari, Sindh, Paisuni and Baghen.
• The total length of these rivers in M.P. is about 3956 km, of which 553 km form boundaries with other states.
• The Narmada and Sone both originate at Amarkantak, on the Maikal ranges. The Narmada flows westward.
• Johila, Macherwa, Denwa and Choti Tawa join the Narmada in the Satpura-Maikal area.

Basins

• Chambal, Betwa, Sindh, Dhasan, Ken, Paisuni and Baghian join the Yamuna and are sub-basins of the Yamuna Basin, which itself falls under the Ganga Basin.
• The Sone is described by the department as joining the Ganga directly, as a sub-basin of the Ganga Basin.
• The Malwa plateau forms the water divide between the Ganga and Narmada basins.

Rivers by region

• Rewa-Panna (Vindhyan) plateau: Ken, Sonar, Barna and Tons.
• Bundelkhand plateau: Betwa, Dhasan and Jamner, which finally join the Yamuna.
• Central India plateau: Chambal, Kali Sindh and Parvati.
• Malwa plateau: Shipra, Parvati, Kali Sindh, Gambhir and Chambal.
• Narmada valley (average 300 m above MSL) is alluvial and more important for agriculture than the narrower Sone valley.
• The Chambal and Narmada valleys offer good potential for hydroelectric power.

History of irrigation

• Water storage tanks were built by Chandel Kings at Khajuraho, and by the Kalchuri dynasty in Bilaspur district in 1120-35 A.D.
• The Wainganga canal system in Balaghat was completed in June 1923; the Pagara dam in Gwalior district, completed in 1927, is called a milestone.
• Palakmati (Bhopal) and Moorum Nalla (Balaghat) tanks were built in 1933 and 1936.
• In 1940-44, the Gwalior State built the Shank-Asan, Kaketo, Aaoda, Harshi and Tigra projects, creating 1.70 lakh acres of irrigation potential.
• The C. P. Irrigation Committee (1927-29) banned new irrigation works until completed schemes proved remunerative; a new era began in 1951-52.

Growth of irrigation potential

• Before the first Five-Year Plan (1950-51): 2 major, 18 medium and 618 minor schemes, with 4.69 lakh ha potential.
• At reorganisation in 1956: 4.84 lakh ha, with 3 major, 37 medium and 948 minor schemes.
• 1984-85: 24.52 lakh ha, with 17 major, 109 medium and 4991 minor schemes.
• 1997-98: 33.04 lakh ha, with 22 major, 134 medium and 6910 minor schemes.
• As per assessment, 10.22 million ha of irrigation potential can be created, about 50% of the net sown area (1997).

Major completed projects (design irrigation)

• Bansagar (Ganga Basin): 193359 ha
• Chambal Canal (Yamuna Basin): 191380 ha
• Tawa (Narmada Basin): 165472 ha
• Rajghat (Sindh Basin): 164000 ha
• Sanjay Sarovar (Upper Wainganga) (Wainganga Basin): 69700 ha
• Barna (Narmada Basin): 62000 ha
• Kolar (Narmada Basin): 60900 ha
• Bariyarpur (Dhasan & Ken Basin): 43800 ha
• Sindh Project (Sindh Basin): 40800 ha
• Harsi (Yamuna Basin): 30223 ha
• Mahi (Mahi Basin): 26430 ha
• Samarat Ashok Sagar (Halali) (Betwa Basin): 25091 ha

Water Resources Department

• Formerly the Irrigation Department, it builds and maintains irrigation projects, flood control and drainage works, and protects the state's share in the water of inter-state rivers.