Irrigation Capacity Must Be Increased by Completing Ongoing Projects in the State – Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai : Large, medium, small-scale projects, and storage ponds are currently in progress across the state. To ensure ample water availability for irrigation and improve the well-being of farmers, project work should be accelerated. Increasing the state’s irrigation capacity is essential for ensuring a prosperous future for the farmers (Baliraja). Thus, Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized today that the state’s irrigation capacity must be expanded by completing the ongoing projects. He also noted that 21 projects have already received revised administrative approval.

During the governing body meeting of the Water Resources Department held at Sahyadri Guest House, 21 ongoing projects were granted revised administrative approval. In addition, new sub-irrigation schemes for Ashti and Gadhona-Pimpalkhuta in Wardha district were approved. A floating solar power project spanning 732 hectares of reservoir surface, proposed under the Lower Wardha project through Mahagenco, was also approved. This project is expected to generate approximately 505 MW of electricity.

Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis mentioned that Palghar district is rapidly developing due to port expansion, leading to increased urbanization. To meet the growing water needs of the future population, it is necessary to create new water supply sources. A comprehensive water resource plan for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, considering current and future water demands, should be developed, with a consultant appointed for this purpose.

The Kalu project, under the Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation, will benefit the water supply needs of Thane, Ulhasnagar, and Dombivli. After the completion of the Susari project, water reservation for port expansion should be confirmed. Efforts should be made to secure funding for the Susari project through the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. With the growth of ports, industries, cargo handling, and warehousing in the region, there will be an influx of people seeking employment. Therefore, the Susari project should be completed with future water requirements in mind.

The Deputy Chief Minister also stressed that amended administrative approvals and special rectification projects should be completed within the designated time frame. The Water Resources Department should standardize the process for fund demand and administrative approvals. Additionally, an app should be developed to streamline and coordinate work on these projects.

Projects Receiving Revised Administrative Approval:

In Vidarbha, revised administrative approval was granted for 12 projects, while two additional projects were approved under special amendments. Key projects include the Raigad River Project (T. Chandur Railway, Amravati district), Nimgaon Small Project (T. Tiroda, Gondia district), Rajura Large Small Project (T. Chandur Bazar, Amravati district), and the Chichghat Upsa Irrigation Scheme (T. Kuhi, Nagpur district), among others. These projects will create approximately 51,964 hectares of irrigation capacity in Vidarbha. Additionally, special repairs were approved for the Bor Big and Dham Medium projects in Wardha district, adding 12,160 and 7,043 hectares of irrigation capacity, respectively.

In Marathwada, improved administrative approval was given to projects in Shivani Takli (Kannad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district) and Palaskheda (Jalna district), creating irrigation potential on 6,849 hectares. Initial approval was also granted for the survey of the Par-Godavari Upsa Irrigation Scheme, which aims to divert water from the Par River’s western channel to the Godavari basin.

Under the Maharashtra Krishna Basin Development Corporation, improved administrative approval for land acquisition was granted for the Lower Khairi Project (Paranda, Dharashiv district), Ramnagar Project (Umarga, Dharashiv district), Dindegaon Small Irrigation Project (Tuljapur, Dharashiv district), and the Jamb Storage Lake (Bhum, Dharashiv district), creating 2,158 hectares of irrigation potential.

“MLA and Vice Chairman of the Maharashtra Krishna Basin Irrigation Development Corporation, Mahesh Shinde, along with Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department, Deepak Kapoor, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), Dr. O.P. Gupta, Principal Secretary of the Relief and Rehabilitation Department, Sonia Sethi, Executive Director of the Maharashtra Krishna Basin Development Corporation, Atul Kapole, Executive Director of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation, R.S. Sontakke, and other officers were present.”