Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Nar–Par–Girna River Link Project Gets Preliminary Environmental Clearance
The Indian government is planning a big water project called the Nar–Par–Girna River Link Project.
It will be built in Maharashtra, near a famous mountain range called the Western Ghats.
The project will move extra water from some rivers to another river area that does not have enough water.
This will help water about 50,000 hectares of farmland.
That is a lot of farms in the Nashik and Jalgaon districts.
The project will cost nearly 7,400 crore rupees.
It will need nine dams, three links, pump houses, and tunnels to be built.
Some forest land will be used, and about 2,580 people in nine villages may be affected.
In July, a government committee gave the project its first big approval step.
The project still has more checks and studies before it can actually be built.
The Nar–Par–Girna River Link Project, spanning more than 3,800 ha in Maharashtra's Nashik district, received preliminary clearance.
The Environment Ministry's expert appraisal committee recommended terms of reference (TOR) for the project during its July 30 meeting.
The nearly Rs 7,400-crore project will divert surplus water from the west-flowing Nar, Par, Auranga and Ambika river basins to the water-deficit Girna sub-basin of the Tapi river basin.
It aims to provide assured irrigation to about 50,000 ha of agricultural land in Nashik and Jalgaon districts.
The project requires diversion of over 900 ha of forest land and will affect nine villages with 516 houses and about 2,580 persons.
- Who
- The project is being managed by the Girna River Valley Division of Maharashtra government's Water Resource Department; the Environment Ministry's expert appraisal committee (EAC) recommended the preliminary clearance.
- What
- The Nar–Par–Girna River Link Project, a river-link scheme spanning more than 3,800 ha, received preliminary approval through the grant of standard terms of reference (TOR).
- When
- The EAC recommended the terms of reference during its meeting on July 30; the clearance was reported on August 13.
- Where
- Nashik district, Maharashtra, with parts of the project falling within the eco-sensitive area of the Western Ghats and water flowing to the Girna sub-basin of the Tapi river basin.
- Why
- To divert surplus water from the west-flowing Nar, Par, Auranga and Ambika river basins to provide assured irrigation to about 50,000 ha of agricultural land in Nashik and Jalgaon districts.
- Project
- Nar–Par–Girna River Link Project
- Estimated cost
- Nearly Rs 7,400 crore
- Land affected
- More than 3,800 ha, with over 1,600 ha to be submerged
- Forest land diversion
- Over 900 ha
- Infrastructure
- Nine dams, three links, pump houses and tunnels
- People affected
- Nine villages, 516 houses, about 2,580 persons
- Irrigation target
- About 50,000 ha in Nashik and Jalgaon districts
- Approval status
- Recommended for terms of reference (TOR) by the EAC on July 30