Drought relief: Maharashtra seeks Rs 9,200 crore, Centre grants it to the last penny

Maharashtra has got what it demanded. Union minister for water resources Uma Bharti on Tuesday said that the Centre would immediately provide the entire relief demanded by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for completing the long-pending irrigation projects in 14 districts, which are worst-hit by drought.

Bharti and Fadnavis said that irrigation projects are the only way to prevent suicides.

She said that the Union government would be positive when it comes to providing irrigation facilities and it would provide the entire amount for completing these projects.

The announcement was made at a meeting between Bharti, Fadnavis, Union minister for road transport Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra minister for revenue Eknath Khadse and others.

The meeting decided to appoint a committee under Union secretary Amarjeet Singh for completing the Gosi Khurd project, which is a national-level project in Vidarbha. The project would bring 2.5 lakh hectares of land under cultivation. Bharti said that the Union government would provide 90% funding for the project and the state would spend 10%, so that project is completed in next three years.