Published On:July 24 2018
Maharashtra government requires 1 lakh crore for ongoing irrigation projects
The Maharastra state government requires Rs 101017.94 crore to complete 428 ongoing irrigation projects in the state, While the total cost of these projects is Rs 177802.72 crore, the government has till now spent Rs 76784.78 crore.
Wrong policies allowing thin spread of available resources had often marred the completion of these projects. The government has now decided to accord highest priorities to irrigation projects where only 25 to 50 per cent of the work remains those project are in backward districts and drought-prone areas.
These 428 irrigation projects are being executed by the five irrigation development corporations. While the Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation has 63 projects (worth Rs 34522.27 crore) under it, Tapi Irrigation Development Corporation is executing 35 projects (Rs 13931.66 crore), Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation is working on 220 projects (Rs 66909.54 crore), Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation is implementing 54 projects (Rs 43686.85 crore) and Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation has 56 projects (Rs 18752.42 crore) under it.
According to data from corporations, of the 428 projects, work on 77 had started more than 30 years ago. While 70 projects had started between 20 and 30 years ago, work had begun in 48 projects 15 years ago. Work on 51 projects had begun 10 years ago and 154 projects had started between five and 10 years ago. Only in five projects, work had started five years ago. Even after being sanctioned, no work has begun in 23 projects. Delay in relief and rehabilitation of those who lose land for a project had affected work. As reported by Indian Express.