Distribution of Development Works to Women’s Cooperative Societies Under Consideration – CM Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced in the Legislative Assembly that the government is considering allotting development works to women’s cooperative societies. This is in addition to the current practice, where development works worth up to ₹10 lakh are allocated to labour cooperative societies, educated unemployed engineers, and eligible registered contractors, as per the Public Works Department’s regulations. The state government has already permitted the registration of women cooperative societies.

This statement was made in response to a calling attention motion raised by Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Prakash Solanke regarding the distribution of irrigation department works in Majalgaon, Beed district. During the discussion, MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar also participated by raising supplementary questions.

Chief Minister Fadnavis stated that in order to bring greater transparency to the distribution of development projects, a committee comprising elected representatives will be formed. Based on the recommendations of this committee, a more systematic and transparent method for work allotment will be adopted.

In response to the same motion, Water Resources Minister (Godavari and Krishna Valley Development Corporation) Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil informed the House that the Majalgaon Irrigation Division oversees a total of 66 projects, including 6 medium, 53 minor, and 7 Kolhapuri-type weirs. Through these projects, the department manages irrigation across 87,993 hectares of land.

The Executive Engineer of this division has approved a proposal list of 148 urgent works, each costing less than ₹10 lakh. Instructions will be issued to submit an inquiry report on the allocation of these works within 15 days. Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the report, added Minister Vikhe-Patil.