Maharashtra demands revised clearance of Bhima revised project

New Delhi, Jul 31 (UNI) A Maharashtra delegation today urged Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz to expedite works on Bhima Multi-purpose Project under the revised project report to help Sholapur district of Maharashtra create an additional irrigation potential of 33,000 hectares of land.

The project envisages construction of a dam across river Bhima and canal network, a 12 MW power house. The project also provides 2.1 tmcs of domestic water to Sholapur city. The work on the project started in 1966.

Prof Soz assured to the delegation led by Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde that the project, after getting investment clearance from the Planning Commission, would again receive Acclerated Irrigation Benefit Programme assistance support for enlarged scope of the project cover of an additional irrigation potential of 30,000 hectares.

The delegation apprised Prof Soz about the Maharashtra's revised project report estimated to cost Rs 1412 crore which was pending examination by the Central Water Commission considering issues likes hydrology, water planning and design and flood etc. The project had received World Bank and AIBP fundings creating a potential of 44,000 hectares and was declared complete in 2006-07.

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