Supplementary Demands: Rs 350 cr proposed for Gosikhurd project

* The project may be included in Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

Staff Reporter
Maharashtra Government has proposed an allocation of Rs 350 crore in supplementary demands tabled before State Legislature on Tuesday. The allocation has been made to put the project’s remaining work on fast track.
Deepak Kesarkar, Minister of State for Finance and Planning, said that Rs 350 crore was an additional provision made for Gosikhurd national project. As per the document detailing supplementary demands, the additional provision would be made available to Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC).
It may be mentioned here that the project was conceptualised more than 27 years ago but it is yet to be completed. The main reason for delay in completion of this project being inadequate financial allocations, issues pertaining to forest clearances, escalation of cost over the years, etc. The mega-irrigation project has got the status of a national project. For some time, it also received funds under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP). It was at the centre of a controversy also as the Government appointed committees found sub-standard work done by contractors, addition of components, and other irregularities.
As it stands today, the dam and other works are completed but the canal system is yet to be completed in all aspects and respects. As a result, farmers in many areas are yet to derive major intended benefits out of the storage in this project. Some of the project-affected persons also are yet to be shifted, and this is proving to be a hurdle in increasing storage in the project reservoir to the desired level. Considering this and other aspects, the Government has decided to put the project on fast-track and hence an additional allocation has been made, said the sources.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister; and comprising Girish Mahajan, Water Resources Minister; met Uma Bharti, Union Minister for Water Resources, in Delhi on Monday evening. At present, the project does not get Central funds. As such, Fadnavis sought funds for the national project from the Central Government. Uma Bharti assured to look into the matter positively.
Mahajan told ‘The Hitavada’ that the talks were fruitful and positive things could be expected for Gosikhurd project. He said that the project might be included in Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. The Central scheme had been launched with an outlay of Rs 50,000 crore for a period of five years -- 2015-16 to 2019-20. The main objective of the scheme is to achieve convergence of investments in irrigation sector at the field level. The scheme has been formulated after amalgamation of various ongoing schemes including AIBP, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation; Integrated Watershed Management Programme, and On-Farm Water Management component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture.

(08-12-15)