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Nitin Gadkari declares Rs 60-cr fund for Maharashtra irrigation

Announces India’s first river-linking project between Maharashtra, Gujarat

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (left) with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at a press conference on irrigation projects in Mumbai on Friday
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Newly-minted Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced a central grant of between Rs 55,000 crore and Rs 60,000 crore over the next two years for Maharashtra to complete irrigation projects, adding the state can increase its irrigated land percentage from 22 per cent to 40 per cent in that period.

He also announced that India’s first river-linking project will be executed between Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The Nar-Par-Tapi-Narmada and Damanganga-Pinjal interstate river-linking project will commence in next three months, he said, adding that a new water sharing agreement between the two states will be inked next week.

In a joint press conference, Gadkari and Fadnavis said that boosting irrigation projects would help arrest farmers’ suicides in the state. Most of the deaths have been attributed to high debt because of failed crop due to lack of irrigation, among other factors.

Gadkari and Fadnavis also reviewed the progress of various irrigation projects and road projects in the state during a two-hour meeting. All district collectors joined the meeting via video conferencing while state minister for water resources Girish Mahajan, PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil, Minister Eknath Shinde, minister of state Madan Yerawar, and senior officials of concerned departments were also present.

Gadkari said there are 30 river linking projects proposed nationwide, which are expected to cost Rs 8 lakh crore. Five of these will start in the next three months; two of those are in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The river linking projects will give Maharashtra an additional 50 Thousand Million Cubic feet (TMC) of water. Fadnavis said this would take care of the water needs of Marathwada, Ahmednagar, North Maharashtra, and Mumbai.

Projects

Centre announced a grant Rs 55,000-60,000 crore to Maharashtra. 
Gadkari also declared that a water sharing agreement will be signed between Maharashtra and Gujarat for river linking projects. 

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