The Centre on Tuesday indicated that it would provide financial assistance ranging anywhere from Rs22,000 to Rs30,000 crore to the Maharashtra Government over the next three years to complete the various ongoing irrigation projects, particularly small and medium ones in the drought-affected Vidarbha and Marathwada.
Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari gave an indication to this effect, after he and Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bhartih reviewed the State’s projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) and other ongoing projects under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his senior Cabinet colleagues.
“The Centre is particularly keen on providing funds for completing small and medium irrigation projects in drought-affected areas of Vidarbha and Marathwada. We will bring a proposal before the Union Cabinet soon,” Gadkari said.
Gadkari said the PMYSY was aimed at accelerating irrigation potential in the country. “Maharashtra is a major focus state, as it has a lot of irrigation potential which has not yet been realised,” he said.
Speaking at the review meeting, Fadnavis told the Union Ministers that his Government had shortlisted 26 national irrigation projects under the PMYSY.
The Chief Minister urged the Centre to consider a special package for Maharashtra in the wake of the four consecutive years of drought. He also highlighted the urgency to increase the irrigation potential in the State, which is currently only about 18 per cent.
Fadnavis said Uma Bharti had agreed to take up 132 projects of 14 suicide prone dists of Vidarbha & Marathwada as special projects worth Rs7188 crore, following a request to that effect by Fadnavis and Gadkari.
“Out of the 132 projects, 98 are from Vidarbha (Rs4,098 crore) and 34 are from Marathwada (Rs3,090 crore),” the Chief Minister tweeted.
“Minister @umasribharti also agreed to take up 67 drought prone area projects and Tapi Mega Recharge Project on priority basis,” the chief minister said.
Fadnavis said that Uma Bharati had agreed in principle to complete 26 AIBP projects of the state under PMKSY in 60:40 ratio, for irrigation.
Making a special mention of long pending Ghosikhurd irrigation and the Tapi recharge irrigation projects, Fadnavis sought central assistance for completing the two major projects.
After hearing the representation made by the chief minister, the Centre announced setting up of a committee under the Chairmanship of Special Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources to suggest ways and means to expedite the completion of the Ghosikhurd project.
“A special joint team of GoI & GoM will be set up to prepare a future plan for Gosikhurd project & report will be submitted within 15 days,” Fadnavis tweeted after the meeting.
At the review meeting of ongoing irrigation projects in Maharashtra held at the State-run Sahyadri Guest House, Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan and his deputy Vijay Shivtare of the Shiv Sena were also present.