NMC Revives Kanhan-Kolar Barrage Plan, Eyes Central Funds To Reduce Pench Dependence The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has revived its long-pending proposal to construct a barrage at the confluence of the Kanhan and Kolar rivers, aiming to create an independent and sustainable water source for the city while reducing reliance on the Pench reservoir. Officials are preparing a detailed project report (DPR) and exploring financial assistance under the Centre’s Urban Challenge Scheme. The proposed funding model envisions a 25% contribution from the Centre and the state government, with the NMC raising the remaining 50%. To cover its share, the corporation is examining options such as a public-private partnership (PPP) model and municipal bonds. The project is currently in the planning stage, with officials assessing storage potential, technical feasibility, and updated project costs before seeking approvals. This initiative comes amid unprecedented raw water withdrawals in Nagpur, where the city drew nearly 775 million liters per day (MLD) from the Pench reservoir and Kanhan river system during the recent summer to meet peak demand—the highest-ever withdrawal for the city. Nagpur currently supplies around 700 MLD of treated water daily, including approximately 220 MLD from the Kanhan Water Treatment Plant. The proposed barrage would store surplus monsoon flows, ensuring year-round availability of raw water for the 240-MLD Kanhan Water Treatment Plant. It would also reduce the need for water releases from Pench into the Kanhan system during lean periods. Earlier studies suggested the project could nearly double water availability from the Kanhan basin by significantly enhancing storage capacity. The plan revives a vision tied to Nagpur’s water history.#devendra_fadnavis #nagpur_municipal_corporation #chandrashekhar_bawankule #pench_reservoir #kanhan_kolar_barrage
