Bhopal: Maharashtra is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Madhya Pradesh for the world’s first ground recharge project in the Tapti Basin.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the upcoming MoU signing, which will be attended by Union Minister for Jal Shakti CR Patil and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Bhopal.

The announcement came during a meeting chaired by Yadav on the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge and Kanhan Sub Basin Projects, held at the Mantralaya in Madhya Pradesh on Friday. MP Water Resources Minister TulsiramSilawat, along with senior officials from the Maharashtra water resources department, were also present.

Yadav said that discussions would be held with the Union government to declare the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project as a National Water Project.

The completion of the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project will provide irrigation facilities for over 1.23 lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 2.34 lakh hectares in Maharashtra.

Yadav said that steps would be taken to implement the Kanhan Sub Basin Project. This initiative aims to boost irrigation facilities in Chhindwara district, benefiting local farmers, and provide a reliable drinking water supply to Nagpur City.

Yadav highlighted the water-sharing plan under the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project, stating that 31.13 TMC water would be utilised. Of this, Madhya Pradesh will receive 11.76 TMC, while Maharashtra will receive 19.36 TMC.

The project is also part of a broader effort to resolve longstanding water distribution issues between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.