Focus on completion of irrigation projects on time with substantial budgetary allocation: Maha CM Fadnavis
Mumbai, July 17
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed the Water Resources Department to expedite ongoing irrigation projects and ensure their timely completion, emphasising that the state government is making substantial budgetary provisions for the sector.
The directives were issued during a high-level review meeting.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Fadnavis reviewed several key projects, including the Nar-Par-Girna River Linking Project, Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari, Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari, and the Konkan Ulhas-Vaitarna and Godavari Valley River Linking Projects.
"Several initiatives like the river-linking projects, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), and the Baliraja Jal Sanjeevani Yojana are underway across the state. These projects will bring a monumental shift to Maharashtra's irrigation framework," he said, while strictly instructing the department to ensure absolute transparency in execution.
The ambitious Wainganga-Nalganga river-linking project aims to divert 63.74 TMC of water from the Wainganga sub-basin in the Godavari valley to the water-scarce Nalganga sub-basin in the Buldhana district.
"With a massive irrigation potential of 6,11,150 hectares, this project is designed to benefit eight districts: Bhandara, Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Yavatmal, Akola, Buldhana and Washim," the Chief Minister added.
The Chief Minister took stock of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in the state, noting that 20 projects have been completed while seven remain under progress.
According to CM Fadnavis, under the PMKSY as of March 2026, 4.30 lakh hectares of irrigation potential achieved, which is 74 per cent of the target, against the ultimate target of 5.79 lakh hectares of irrigation capacity.
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana's scope includes 29 major and medium irrigation projects with a total project cost of Rs 24,721 crore comprising central assistance of Rs 4,288 crore (17 per cent of the total cost).
To combat agricultural distress in Vidarbha, Marathwada, and other suicide-prone districts of the state, the Central government launched the Baliraja Jal Sanjeevani Yojana as part of a special package.
his scheme encompasses eight major/medium irrigation projects and 83 surface minor irrigation projects, the Chief Minister said.
Progress updates and future action plans by the Water Resources Department under the 'Viksit Maharashtra' initiative were also presented during the meeting.
— IANS
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