Cabinet reshuffle: Devendra Fadnavis hopes irrigation projects will be cleared fast after Nitin Gadkari gets additional charge

Mumbai: With Nitin Gadkari getting additional responsibility of the Union water resources ministry, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Monday voiced hope that irrigation proposals worth Rs 24,000 crore submitted to the Centre by Maharashtra will be speedily cleared. Speaking to PTI over Sunday’s reshuffle of the Union cabinet, Fadnavis noted that Gadkari, who holds the charge of the road transport ministry, sanctioned several highway proposals in Maharashtra, and now he has got additional responsibility of water resources ministry, which is a crucial department for the state. [caption id=“attachment_3794073” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. PTI[/caption] The network of national highways in Maharashtra increased from 5,000 to 20,000 kilometres, he said. “The Maharashtra government has already submitted irrigation proposals worth Rs 24,000 crore to the Union ministry. With Gadkari being the minister, I am hopeful of all the projects getting speedy clearances and funds,” the Chief Minister said. Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchan Yojana, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 26,000 crore-worth works in Maharashtra, possibly the largest allocation under the scheme in the country, Fadnavis added. “The biggest reform we are bringing is pipeline-based water supply and doing away with the prevailing open canal system where land acquisition, related litigation, water leakage and challenges of equitable water distribution are the hurdles. Several (irrigation) projects are incomplete because land owners refused to give land for canal construction. By laying pipelines, we minimise the need for land,” he said. Gadkari has taken care of Maharashtra’s requirements in roads and national highways, “He would do the same when it comes to the water resources,” Fadnavis said. The Chief Minister also asserted that Suresh Prabhu — another minister from the state — took several steps to improve railway connectivity in Maharashtra and minimise travel woes of Mumbai residents. The new railway minister, Piyush Goyal, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra, would be similarly helpful, he said. “Goyal is a ‘Mumbaikar’ and well aware of multiple problems of this region. Proposals of redevelopment of railway stations and improvement of railway facilities are the two fronts where Maharashtra is expected to benefit more. His work as the Union power minister was also beneficial for Maharashtra,” Fadnavis said. The agriculture export sector is expected to benefit with Prabhu heading the commerce ministry, Fadnavis said. “As the railway minister, he had helped set up pre-cooling facility for farmers in Nashik. Now as the commerce minister, his support for agri-export will be valuable,” the chief minister said.