Mah govt to raise Rs 16,345 cr for removal of irrigation backlog

Mumbai, Apr 11 (UNI) Maharashtra Government will raise Rs 16,345 crore for removal of irrigation backlog in the state in the next three years and a separate corporation for 148 perennially drought prone talukas would be set up soon, the Legislative Assembly was informed here today.

Replying to the debate on budgetary demands of the Irrigation department, which was marked by three adjournments and dharna by senior most member Ganpatrao Deshmukh, Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar said the funds will be raised from the market after approval from Planning Commission.

Supplementary demands to this effect will be tabled in the Legislature during the Monsoon session, he said, adding, approval of the Governor will also be taken.

Mr Pawar said Vidarbha will get Rs 6,956 crore in which 120 TMC of water will be stored and 3.93 lakh hectare area would be brought under irrigation. Krishna Valley Irrigation Corporation in Western Maharashtra will get Rs 3,145 crore, additional 71 TMC of water will be stored and 2.19 lakh hectare will be brought under irrigation.

Tapi Irrigation Corporation in North Maharashtra will get Rs 1,151 crore, 29 TMC of water will be stored and 1.43 lakh hectare area will be brought under irrigation. Similarly, Konkan will get Rs 1,098 crore to bring 65,120 hectare under irrigation and storing 34 TMC.

Godavari Irrigation Corporation in Marathwada will get Rs 3,194 crore to store 81 TMC of water and bring 3.33 lakh hectare under irrigation, he added.

The funds would be provided project-wise in each region, Mr Pawar said.

He said the separate corporation for drought prone 148 talukas will be set up before the commencement of the Monsoon session in July. The government was following the directives of Governor S M Krishna for equitable distribution to all regions to wipe out the irrigation backlog in the state, he added.

Mr Pawar said the Governor had allocated Rs 371 crore for Nagpur, Rs 1,526 crore for Amravati, Rs 804 crore for Marathwada and Rs 616 crore for rest of Maharashtra.

Out of the total Rs 616 crore for Rest of Maharashtra, Rs 114 crore was allocated for Konkan, Rs 217 crore for North Maharashtra and Rs 284 crore for Western Maharashtra (Krishna Valley Development Corporation) during the current budget.

He said the remaining amount at the end of the year will not lapse and remain with the respective irrigation corporations.

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