Half a Million Acres in Dhule District to be Irrigated Next Year – Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Dhule : Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that by next year, 150,000 acres of land in Shindkheda taluka, Dhule district, will be irrigated through the Jamphal Dam Closed Pipeline Distribution System, part of the Sulwade Jamphal Kanoli Upsa Irrigation Scheme. He made this statement during the Bhumi Poojan Ceremony of the project in Shindkheda.

Present at the event were Guardian Minister Girish Mahajan, Zilla Parishad President Dharti Devare, MP Dr. Shobha Bachhav, MLAs Amrish Patel, Jayakumar Rawal, Kashiram Pawara, and Manjula Gavit, along with senior government officials such as Water Resources Department Additional Chief Secretary Deepak Kapoor, District Collector Jitendra Papalkar, and others.

Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis emphasized the importance of the day for Dhule district, stating that Shindkheda taluka is now on the path to drought relief. The irrigation project, approved in 1999, saw a mere Rs. 26 crore allocated over 18 years. However, in the past seven years, Rs. 2,100 crore has been allocated to speed up its completion. He also mentioned that with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, projects worth Rs. 9.24 TMC from the Tapi River were approved.

Once completed, the project will use a 728-kilometer underground pipeline to distribute water to 54 villages, irrigating 42,513 hectares of land in one year. The water will be pumped from the Tapi River through 32 pumps with a total capacity of 75,458 HP. This will also irrigate 49 villages in Dhule taluka, covering an additional 10,207 hectares.

Fadnavis added that by using the gravity-based closed distribution system instead of traditional canal distribution, electricity costs will be reduced. Plans are in place to provide electricity to farmers year-round through solar power. He also highlighted the upcoming Manmad-Dhule-Indore railway line, which will boost industrial development in Dhule.

He mentioned several government initiatives, such as the Chief Minister’s Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, free education for girls, a 50% discount on state transport buses for women, and employment for 10 lakh youth under the Chief Minister Youth Training Scheme. Fadnavis assured that no project in Dhule will face a shortage of funds.

Sulwade Jamphal Kanoli Project a Lifesaver for Farmers – Girish Mahajan

Guardian Minister Girish Mahajan called it a historic day, noting that the Sulwade Jamphal project, which received approval in 1999, is progressing rapidly. The project is funded by Rs. 518 crore from the central government, Rs. 1,550 crore from NABARD, and Rs. 339 crore from the state, totaling Rs. 2,407 crore. So far, 73% of the work has been completed.

Once finished, the project will irrigate nearly half a million acres, providing much-needed relief to farmers in drought-prone areas. Mahajan also praised the state and central governments, highlighting other key initiatives like road and railway development, aviation services, the Rs. 5 lakh free insurance scheme for citizens, the Antyodaya free grain scheme, free gas cylinders for women, and free higher education for girls.

Water Will Reach Every Farmer’s Field Next Year – MLA Jayakumar Rawal

MLA Jayakumar Rawal announced that the ‘Bandist Nalik Vitraan Sistema’ (PDN) scheme, which supplies water to 54 villages in Shindkheda taluka for agriculture through a direct pipeline from Jamphal Dam, was officially launched today by the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis. He also mentioned that the Shetkari Shiv Samvad Vikas Yatra, which ran from August 5 to September 8, covered 161 villages over 35 days and received an overwhelming response from the citizens. A total of 15,000 irrigation wells have been provided for Shindkheda taluka.

Under the Sulwade Jamphal project, a 728 km underground pipeline will supply water from the Jamphal Dam to 54 villages, irrigating 42,513 hectares of land. This will make Shindkheda taluka permanently drought-free, ensuring that water reaches every farmer’s field within the next year and a half, he said.

Former MP Dr. Subhash Bhamre emphasized that the Sulwade Jamphal scheme is a lifeline for the district. Continuous follow-ups with the central government secured Rs 2,400 crore in funding for the project, 73% of which has already been completed. The scheme will benefit 54 villages in Shindkheda taluka and 49 villages in Dhule taluka, utilizing 9 TMC of water.

Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil provided guidance through a recorded message. At the beginning of the program, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Fadnavis, along with other dignitaries, visited and inspected the dam site. The event was introduced by Tapi Patbandhare Development Corporation Director J.T. Borkar, and a vote of thanks was given by Superintending Engineer Shri Khandekar.