Kshipra Sub Basin - Asian Development Bank

Support to the National Water Mission NAPCC
Appendix 3 Kshipra Sub Basin
49. Micro irrigation schemes have gained popularity in the Kshipra particularly in Dewas district.
Many farmers have adopted micro irrigation because of increased crop productivity, saving in water
and increased revenue. Crop production estimates were reported to be about 30% high where as
water saving is reported to be 50%. Various soil moisture retentions techniques likes mulching the
farmland with black plastic sheets were also seen to be popular in the basin.
D. Potable Water
50. Drinking groundwater problems are widely reported in the basin. Water shortage has been
caused by large scale irrigation schemes, which have caused lowering of groundwater table in the
basin as well as making the Kshipra river dry in the non-monsoon season. The annual requirement of
domestic water is estimated to be about 200MCM.
51. It was found that drinking water problems are being tackled in some of the villages by adoption
of local water conservation to support recharge to dug wells and small tubewells. With more than
800mm annual rainfall, the drinking water problem there are opportunities to support sustainable
potable water at village level through conservation and storage of water with people‘s participation.
52. The GOMP is presently formulating a major water supply project for supply drinking water to
1500 villages and 27 town in Ujjain, Dewas and Shajapur district from the Narmada river. This project
when implemented is designed to solve drinking water problems of the Kshipra sub-basin. This very
large project will require multiple pumping with pumping heads of around 800 metres at an estimated
cost of Rs2988 crore.
53. Indore Urban Water Supply: Indore is the largest population centre, population growth over
the last census decade shows growth of 40%. The city has a very high population density of 1028
persons per ha and severe problems of water and sanitation. Water supply is available for only 45
minutes on alternate days, covering 54% of the city population. Average water supply is 80 lpcd. 50%
of water is unaccounted for (UFW) including 40% transmission and distribution losses. Only 55%
population has access to sewerage network and 80% of sewers are underutilised for want of
maintenance. Only 20% of roads have storm water drainage solid waste collection suffers from poor
handling and management narrow road widths, high vehicular ownership, and a heterogeneous mix of
transport modes resulting in traffic congestion problems and a high accident rate.
54. The city development plan for Indore is planning to provide 24/7 water supplies. The Indore
Urban Water Supply is presently being upgraded through ADB support with an additional 360 MLD of
new water supply with raw water intake completed. Testing and Commissioning in progress. The
laying of water mains for 127Kms has been completed. This would add an indicative volume of 65
MCM per year to the Kshipra water balance (assuming 70% of capacity pumped and 70% non
consumption).
E. Constraints Faced by Farmers in the Basin
(i) Because of the high cost of micro-irrigation scheme, poor farmers are finding it difficult to
install the micro-irrigation schemes in spite of government subsidy.
(ii) Farm ponds have come up in Dewas district but have not been adopted in large scale in
Indore and Ujjain districts because shortage of land and lack of awareness about its utility.
(iii) Higher transaction cost in proper packaging, and lack of logistics of farm produce marketing is
the major worry for the farmers.
(iv) Inadequate weather forecasting system particularly seasonal forecasts and timely advisory
information sharing is cause of concern among farmers.
(v) Crop risk management, like crop insurance and micro-credit flows have not become popular in
the basin.
35