In context of water resources, Madhya Pradesh
has certain unique physical features. Dependent
primarily on monsoon rainfall, the geological
structure and physiography determine the condition of the water table, run-off and aquifers etc.,
which ultimately determine the feasibility of
water resources. Structurally this state is predominantly composed of hard rocks, ranging in
age from the Archaean to the recent period with
limited potentiality of groundwater. Barring a few
areas, most of the state is hilly and dissected
plateau with sloppy land not congenial for water
percolation. Climatically, western half of the state
is semiarid region undergoing water strain
throughout the year. At the same time, eastern and
southeastern part is hilly and dissected increasing
the velocity of running water and inhibiting percolation and therefore facing water scarcity.
9.2 Potential and Availability
of Water Resources
The primary source of water supply on earth is
precipitation. Much of it is lost as evaporation; a
good deal of it goes as run-off and is called
‘surface water’ and a small amount penetrates
into ground and is known as ‘groundwater’.
Availability of surface water depends on amount
of rainfall, which varies widely in this state. In
fact, major component in calculation of potential
of surface and groundwater is the amount of
rainfall. Precipitation decreases from southeast to
northwest in the state (Fig. 9.1). Average annual
rainfall is 62 cm at Gohad in Bhind district in the
northwest and 78 cm at Jhabua in the west to
212 cm at Pachmarhi in Hoshangabad district in
south. South of the Satpura-Kaimur line, annual
rainfall is more than 130 cm but it is less than
this amount north of this line. Along with low
rainfall, it is highly variable in the Madhya
Bharat, western Malwa and middle Narmada
valley. Because of these characteristics, Indian
Metrological Department has identified 27
drought-prone districts of this part of the state.
This pattern is manifested in available potential
of both surface and groundwater.
9.3 Surface Water
The surface water is feasible through ponds,
tanks, rivers, streams and reservoirs. Rivers are
major source of surface water in the state. Rivers
of this state constitute part of the Ganga, Narmada, Tapi, Mahi and Godavari basins. The
Ganga basin, comprising the sub-basins of
Chambal and its tributaries, Betwa, Ken (all part
of Yamuna basin), Tons and Son, drains the
largest area of the state. The northern part of the
state is drained by the rivers Chambal, Betwa,
Ken and their tributaries, which flow northerly
through Bundelkhand region and ultimately join
River Yamuna. The Son River flows east–northeast and joins Ganga near Patna. The Narmada,
flowing in a westerly direction, is a major river
between Satpura and Vindhayan ranges draining
to Arabian sea. Tapi is also westerly flowing
river debouching its water in Arabian Sea.
Wainganga and Pench are tributaries of Godavari
river draining in south-eastern part of the state.
Mahi covers small area of Dhar and Jhabua districts in the west.
The water resource department of the state has
estimated the annual flow of rivers of the state at
81.7 billion cubic meters at 75% reliability. Out
of this, 57.1 billion cubic meters can be utilized
in this state and rest 24.6 billion cubic meters are
allocated to the bordering states. Basin-wise
distribution of this potential is very uneven
(Table 9.1). Largest availability, more than twofifths (41.4%) of the state is in the Yamuna subbasin followed by the Narmada basin (39.5%).
Godavari basin is at third place (36.4%).
Remaining Ganga basin possesses only 15.3% of
potential surface water of the state. The combined potential of the Ganga-Yamuna basin
(57.6%) is largest in the state. However, this
share in potential water resources is lower than
their share in total catchment area of the state.
Besides rivers, there are a large number of
tanks, ponds, lakes and reservoirs preserving
surface water. Estimated area under these water
bodies is about 60 thousand hectares. Along with
this, about 2.27 lakh hectares are under large
man-made reservoirs.
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S. K. Sharma
has certain unique physical features. Dependent
primarily on monsoon rainfall, the geological
structure and physiography determine the condition of the water table, run-off and aquifers etc.,
which ultimately determine the feasibility of
water resources. Structurally this state is predominantly composed of hard rocks, ranging in
age from the Archaean to the recent period with
limited potentiality of groundwater. Barring a few
areas, most of the state is hilly and dissected
plateau with sloppy land not congenial for water
percolation. Climatically, western half of the state
is semiarid region undergoing water strain
throughout the year. At the same time, eastern and
southeastern part is hilly and dissected increasing
the velocity of running water and inhibiting percolation and therefore facing water scarcity.
9.2 Potential and Availability
of Water Resources
The primary source of water supply on earth is
precipitation. Much of it is lost as evaporation; a
good deal of it goes as run-off and is called
‘surface water’ and a small amount penetrates
into ground and is known as ‘groundwater’.
Availability of surface water depends on amount
of rainfall, which varies widely in this state. In
fact, major component in calculation of potential
of surface and groundwater is the amount of
rainfall. Precipitation decreases from southeast to
northwest in the state (Fig. 9.1). Average annual
rainfall is 62 cm at Gohad in Bhind district in the
northwest and 78 cm at Jhabua in the west to
212 cm at Pachmarhi in Hoshangabad district in
south. South of the Satpura-Kaimur line, annual
rainfall is more than 130 cm but it is less than
this amount north of this line. Along with low
rainfall, it is highly variable in the Madhya
Bharat, western Malwa and middle Narmada
valley. Because of these characteristics, Indian
Metrological Department has identified 27
drought-prone districts of this part of the state.
This pattern is manifested in available potential
of both surface and groundwater.
9.3 Surface Water
The surface water is feasible through ponds,
tanks, rivers, streams and reservoirs. Rivers are
major source of surface water in the state. Rivers
of this state constitute part of the Ganga, Narmada, Tapi, Mahi and Godavari basins. The
Ganga basin, comprising the sub-basins of
Chambal and its tributaries, Betwa, Ken (all part
of Yamuna basin), Tons and Son, drains the
largest area of the state. The northern part of the
state is drained by the rivers Chambal, Betwa,
Ken and their tributaries, which flow northerly
through Bundelkhand region and ultimately join
River Yamuna. The Son River flows east–northeast and joins Ganga near Patna. The Narmada,
flowing in a westerly direction, is a major river
between Satpura and Vindhayan ranges draining
to Arabian sea. Tapi is also westerly flowing
river debouching its water in Arabian Sea.
Wainganga and Pench are tributaries of Godavari
river draining in south-eastern part of the state.
Mahi covers small area of Dhar and Jhabua districts in the west.
The water resource department of the state has
estimated the annual flow of rivers of the state at
81.7 billion cubic meters at 75% reliability. Out
of this, 57.1 billion cubic meters can be utilized
in this state and rest 24.6 billion cubic meters are
allocated to the bordering states. Basin-wise
distribution of this potential is very uneven
(Table 9.1). Largest availability, more than twofifths (41.4%) of the state is in the Yamuna subbasin followed by the Narmada basin (39.5%).
Godavari basin is at third place (36.4%).
Remaining Ganga basin possesses only 15.3% of
potential surface water of the state. The combined potential of the Ganga-Yamuna basin
(57.6%) is largest in the state. However, this
share in potential water resources is lower than
their share in total catchment area of the state.
Besides rivers, there are a large number of
tanks, ponds, lakes and reservoirs preserving
surface water. Estimated area under these water
bodies is about 60 thousand hectares. Along with
this, about 2.27 lakh hectares are under large
man-made reservoirs.
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S. K. Sharma