Maharashtra okays water supply schemes for Vidarbha

Maharashtra cabinet today okayed drinking water schemes worth Rs 200 crore in Vidarbha region, Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said today.

Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday okayed drinking water schemes worth Rs 200 crore in Vidarbha region, Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said today.

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The schemes, benefitting salt water belt in Amravati, Akola and Buldhana districts, would be completed by June 2005 while new schemes would be completed by June 2007, the chief minister told a press conference here.

The water supply schemes in salt water belts would be completed with peoples' contribution and work in nearly 385 villages in the region has already begun, he said.

Nearly two cities and 892 villages come under the salt water belt in Amravati, Akola and Buldhana districts.

The funds for the scheme would be raised partly through World Bank loan worth Rs 1500 crore, HUDCO, peoples' contribution and Vidarbha Statutory Development Board, the chief minister said.

Referring to the scarcity situation in the state, Shinde said 4,278 villages and 6389 hamlets were being provided tanker water.