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Govt to move for special package for drought-prone talukas
The state government will make a pitch to the Centre for a special package for its drought-prone talukas that consistently face scarcity.
The state government will make a pitch to the Centre for a special package for its drought-prone talukas that consistently face scarcity.
On Wednesday, in a crucial meeting with the union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who leads the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought, the state government sought Rs2,372 crore for irrigation projects, one in each of the 65 drought prone talukas in the state besides completing last-mile work like building canals.
Pawar ruled out granting this allocation as a part of the drought package, but said a special package could be considered for Maharashtra. “A special allocation for Maharashtra's drought-prone talukas in the belt spanning western Maharashtra, north Maharashtra, Marathwada can be considered. If the state submits a proposal, it can be considered favourably. For instance Bundelkhand was given a special package of Rs 3,000 crore,'' said Pawar.
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the state will make a separate proposal seeking central assistance under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program(AIBP) to consider funds for fast-tracking of irrigation projects in these talukas, which can be completed within one year. The state also wants Rs147 crore for last-mile irrigation projects.
The administration's estimate is that this can bring 1.25 lakh hectares of land under irrigation, create storage of 193Mm3 of water and work as a permanent solution for 65 talukas and 730 villages that face scarcity year after year.
Besides this, the state is aiming for drip irrigation across 3.50 lakh hectares in these rain shadow areas and bringing 4.16 lakh hectares under watershed development. “This is a recurrent problem in the state and we are willing to focus on these drought-prone areas. If we put in efforts and funds, we could get a permanent solution for this crisis,” said Pawar.
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