Maharashtra clears 32 more proposals for non-irrigation use of water

* Waives restoration charges on water for drinking purposes for local bodies barring municipal corporations
* Four of the proposals cleared are from Vidarbha region

Staff Reporter
In a move that will increase non-irrigation use of water from irrigation projects in Maharashtra and reduce further the availability of water for agricultural purposes, State Cabinet cleared 32 proposals for reservation of water for drinking water purposes. While giving nod to this reservation, the Cabinet also waived restoration charges for local bodies except municipal corporations.
State Cabinet cleared 32 proposals seeking allocation of 36.58123 million cubic metres (MCuM) of water for drinking purposes, from irrigation projects. Of these, the highest eight proposals were from Jalgaon district, followed by six from Pune district, three from Kolhapur, two each from Sangli and Latur. A proposal each was from Jalna, Satara, Beed, Thane, Aurangabad, Nashik, and Solapur. Of a total 36.58123 MCuM allocation of water sought by various agencies for domestic use, 24.71623 MCuM is from Pune district alone!
From Vidarbha region, four proposals were received and cleared. These included one each from Amravati and Buldana districts, and two from Washim. The two proposals from Washim include 0.22 MCuM for Rithad rural water supply scheme in Risod tehsil, and .035 MCuM for Khandala Shinde rural water supply scheme in Malegaon tehsil. The water for both these schemes has been allocated from Adol minor irrigation project. In Amravati district, 0.445 MCuM water has been allocated from Shahnoor project for Pathrot water supply scheme. From Netansa minor irrrigation project, allocation of 1.1165 MCuM water has been cleared for Dongaon scheme in Mehkar tehsil of Buldana district.
As per the prevailing norms, Maharashtra Government used to levy restoration charges from local bodies if water from irrigation projects was reserved for meeting drinking water needs of respective cities or villages. The charges were levied as against reduction in the irrigated area. Reviewing the current situation, the Cabinet found that except for municipal corporations, other local bodies were not financially sound enough to pay the restoration charges. Hence, it decided to waive restoration charges for these local bodies.
The charges will be, however, recovered from municipal corporations. The decision will benefit Gram Panchayats, Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, municipal councils, Nagar Panchayats, Cantonment Boards in State.
While making reservations for drinking water purposes from the irrigation projects, Water Resources Department (WRD) recovered restoration charges. If an irrigation project was constructed to irrigate 100 hectares of agricultural land, and canal system was laid out accordingly, a part of the expenditure incurred on the project would go waste if water was provided for non-irrigation purpose like drinking needs of cities or villages. Besides, water availability for irrigation would get affected. To make up for this ‘loss’, WRD used to collect restoration charges from local bodies to whom water was allocated from respective irrigation projects. 

(31-07-14)

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