Cong min wants to control agency headed by DyCM

Water conservation minister Nitin Raut has demanded that the water resources department, led by deputy CM and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, be divested of the Geological Survey Development Authority (GSDA).

Water conservation minister Nitin Raut has demanded that the water resources department, led by deputy CM and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, be divested of the Geological Survey Development Authority (GSDA).

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Raut wants the GSDA to be supervise by his ministry. The Congressman made this demand to CM Prithviraj Chavan while charting out reforms in his department. Chavan has directed chief secretary JK Banthia to lead a task force to decide on Raut demand and other proposed reforms.

On Monday, Raut made a presentation to the CM in view of the severe drought in the state.

Raut later told mediapersons that his department has had a better contribution to irrigation by way of minor projects. “Since its inception in 1992, my department has brought 14.72 lakh hectares of farm land under irrigation while the water resources department has covered 47 lakh hectares in the past 50 years.

We could do better if we’re given more budgetary allocation to fight drought in the state.”

The water resources department will also change the name of one of its programmes from minor irrigation schemes to small scale irrigation department in order to avail of grant from the Centre.