With a focus on water, the Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) is proposing to carry out a multi-agency comprehensive research study on water-related issues in Krishna-Godavari River Basin, encompassing five states.

The project which is in proposal stage aims to undertake research in Krishna-Godavari River Basin which will cover about six lakh square kilometer in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, inhabitated by about 135 million population, who depend on these rivers, NGRI Chief Scientist Shakeel Ahmed told PTI.

This is NGRI's major effort and is proposed to be taken up with multi-agencies involved in water sector to work together on research that will not only optimise costs, but also avoid duplication of research work, he said.

One of the important study proposed in this project would be on delta. Both Godavari and Krishna are falling into the same place Bay of Bengal. A lot number of phenemenon is taking place on water exchange, Shakeel said adding, "lot of fresh water is being discharged into Bay of Bengal and salt water is entering into inland areas also."

"Both these things (to arrest entry of salt water and for making maximum usage of fresh water)...we will be studying with sophisticated equipments after surveys," he said.

"As part of the project we will be studying the entire water system. It will also involve assesment based after studying several models on issues related to distribution, including excess in some areas and depletion in others and focus will also be with regard to studying water pollution in some areas and by giving suggestions," the NGRI scientist explained.

A proposal on this project would be submitted through CSIR to the Planning Commission next month for funding. Once approval is sanctioned, the project will be launched on April 1, 2012 in the 12th Five Year Plan, Shakeel said.

The Central Groundwater Board, groundwater agencies of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and some of the CSIR laboratories would be involved in the study.