New Delhi: Against the backdrop of water scarcity in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, the government today approved a one-time grant to an irrigation project in the area for speedy execution of the work.
The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved special assistance to Bodwad Parisar Sinchan Yojana in Maharashtra in the form of a one-time grant of Rs 500 crore.
Struggle for water. Reuters
Official sources said considering the backwardness of the Vidarbha region and water scarcity in Jalgaon district, the additional assistance in the shape of one time grant would assist the state government to impart sufficient momentum to the project for speedy execution.
The project was approved by the Planning Commission in May 2011 with the estimated cost at Rs 2,178.67 crore (2009-10 price level). It is likely to be completed in the financial year 2015-16.
The Bodwad Parisar Sinchan Yojna, situated in Jalgaon district envisages lifting of 198.54 Mcum (7.01 TMC) water from Hatnur reservoir and conveying the water to two storage reservoirs of Junone and Jamthi.
The water from Junone dam and Jamthi dam will provide annual irrigation of 53,449 hectare in Jalgaon and Buldhana districts.
Jalgaon district is included in the category of Drought Prone Area, while the Buldana district is in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
PTI
