NASHIK: The state government has approved Rs 75.12 crore to renovate the Godavari Left Bank Canal (GLBC) and Godavari Right Bank Canal (GRBC), which were constructed by the British in 1909.
The canals, which run about 90 to 110 km on each side of the Godavari river, originated at Nandur madhmeshwar pickup weir in Niphad taluka of Nashik district to provide drinking water to regions like Shirdi, Rahata in Ahmednagar district and Vaijapur in Aurangabad district.
“The works were proposed to the state government. The government has approved the renovation, which will be carried out in a span of eight months,” Sagar Shinde, said the executive engineer of the water resources department’s Nashik irrigation division.
On July 5, the state government gave its approval for the project, which proposed that the 69 culverts constructed in arches with stone and lime, will now be replaced by the RCC pipes.
“Since the structures have crossed the life expectancy, we are not only renovating these culverts but also increasing their capacity to carry water. This will help in saving water. During the rotation period, when water is released for the beneficiaries, the water will be delivered at a faster pace, thus cutting down the seepage and evaporation factor,” Shinde said.
The canals are the key channels to provide water for drinking, agriculture and industries in the parched areas of both districts.
Since they are old structures, the need to renovate the canal was being felt during the past years. There were also instances when parts of the canal were breached forcing the water resources department to carry out immediate repairs of the canals.
The Nashik irrigation division had proposed the renovation of the canal to the government in 2017.
