Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Proposal Seeks Tunnels To Divert North Konkan Floodwater Eastward
Praful Kadam has suggested building tunnels to move extra floodwater from North Konkan to drier parts of Maharashtra.
Konkan often gets heavy floods in June and July.
At the same time, some eastern areas have too little water.
The proposal says 249.43 TMC of water could be moved through tunnels.
The water would mainly help Western Maharashtra and Marathwada.
Kadam also said it could later benefit Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
He believes tunnels would move more water than some proposed canals or diversion structures.
The Maharashtra government has received the proposal, but the article does not say that construction has been approved.
Praful Kadam proposed tunnels to divert 249.43 TMC of North Konkan floodwater eastward.
The plan targets drought-prone areas of Western Maharashtra and Marathwada.
Kadam said Konkan floods during June-July while eastern regions face water shortages.
The proposal says Konkan has 2,268 TMC of water at 75% dependability.
Kadam said the tunnel plan and Tata-Koyna diversion could provide 365 TMC overall.
- Who
- Praful Kadam, leader of the Kisan Army and Water Army, submitted the proposal to the Maharashtra government.
- What
- A proposal to build tunnels that would divert 249.43 TMC of excess North Konkan floodwater eastward.
- When
- The proposal concerns recurring floods and water shortages during June-July; no submission date is specified.
- Where
- From North Konkan, across the Western Ghats toward Western Maharashtra and Marathwada, with possible benefits for southern states.
- Why
- To address Konkan flooding and water shortages in drought-prone regions.
- Proposed diversion
- 249.43 TMC of North Konkan floodwater
- Konkan water availability
- 2,268 TMC at 75% dependability, according to the proposal
- Regional share
- The proposal says Konkan holds around 64% of Maharashtra’s total available water
- Benefited area
- The proposal says only 6% of the benefited area is located in Konkan
- Primary beneficiaries
- Drought-prone areas of Western Maharashtra and Marathwada
- Additional potential beneficiaries
- Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu
- Combined water claim
- Kadam says the tunnel proposal and Tata-Koyna diversion could provide 365 TMC