Maharashtra drought-free plan : To turn Konkan rivers’ water into Godavari Basin, Wainganga water to be diverted into Nalganga River
Mumbai, Aug 15, 2019 : By turning Konkan river waters merging into the sea towards Godavari Basin and diverting excessive Wainganga waters through a tunnel into Nalganga River the government is planning to make Marathwada and North Maharashtra and East and West Vidarbha drought-free, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis reiterating his resolve on the Independence Day today to rid Maharashtra of recurring droughts.
He was speaking at the main government flag hoisting function held at Mantralaya to commemorate 72nd Independence Day in Mumbai.
Chief Minister Fadanvis further said that the government has made sincere efforts to make Maharashtra self-sufficient in water through Jalyukta Shivar scheme during the last five years. But, due to less rainfall some parts of the state are facing drought situation. To overcome this difficulty, 167 TMC water going to the sea would be diverted to Godavari basin to make Marathwada and North Maharashtra drought-free.
Similarly, by constructing 480 km long tunnel the water of Wainganga River going to Telangana would be diverted to Nalganga River to end drought in eastern and western Vidarbha regions. Along with this the incomplete irrigation projects in drought-hit areas would be speedily completed through the central funding the Chief Minister said adding that the government is committed to rid entire Maharashtra of the drought permanently.
He said that in the event of unprecedented flood situation in some areas of the state, all the three armed forces, NDRF, SDRF, Coast Guards etc. have worked day and night risking their lives and rescued over 5 lakh marooned people to safer places. The government is in complete solidarity with the flood-hit people and will take all steps to help them in this hour of crisis. A package of Rs 6800 crore has been prepared and the rehabilitation will be done in record time, the Chief Minister exuded confidence.
Describing this Independence Day as unique, Chief Minister Fadanvis said that today while the Prime Minister unfurled the tricolor on the Red Fort in Delhi, the national flag was hoisted in Srinagar and Jammu and Laddakh with all enthusiasm and patriotic fervor. He congratulated Prime Minister, Home Minister and Parliament.
He said that his government tried to take the state forward on the path of progress in last five years. The economy of the state is solid in the country and the state is leading in industrial investment with sharing 50 percent of the total national investments. The state is taking confident strides in the direction of fulfilling the dream of Prime Minister Modi to make India a $5 trillion economy. The state will contribute its share by becoming $1 trillion economy, he said.
The state government has invested Rs 1.5 lakh crore in agriculture sector in last five years. The farmers are given direct benefits amounting to Rs 50,000 crore into their bank accounts. In the social Justice sector, efforts are made to take development schemes to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and other deprived sections of the society to fulfill the dream of social equality envisaged by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The government is following the footsteps of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Prime Minister Narenda Modi’s formula of “Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas and Sab Ka Vishwas”.
The stae has performed well in education, industry and all other sectors. With Maratha Reservation, providing facilities to ‘Dhangar’ community, and launching schemes for the economically weaker sections of the open category people, the government is making sincere and honest attempt to ensure development of all the sections of the society and this will continue in future, Fadanvis assured.
After expressing his thoughts Chief Minister Fadanvis paid floral tributes to the portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and statue of Rajmata Jijaau at the Mantralaya.
On this occasion Minister of State for Social Justice Avinash Mahatekar, Chief Justice of the High court Pradip Nandrajog, Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta, Chief Guest of the program New Zealnd Counsel General and Business Commissioner and head of the all Counsel Generals in Mumbai Ralf Hayas were present prominently.
Besides, MLAs Raj Purohit, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Vinayak Mete, Abu Azmi, Vice-President of MHADA Rajendra Mirgane, State Election Commissioner J S Sahariya, Lokayukta M L Tahiliyani, Chief Protocol Officer Nand Kumar, DGP Subodh Jaiswal, Chief officers of all the three armed forces, Additional Principal Secretary of various departments, Principal Secretaries and Secretary etc. were present.
