MNCs come forth to help state villages tackle drought

Paying heed to the government’s request, several multinational companies and NGOs have shown interest in assisting the state’s Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan.

Paying heed to the government’s request, several multinational companies and NGOs have shown interest in assisting the state’s Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan.

The state government has announced the project, an initiative of watershed management through micro-irrigation, under its ambitious plan to make 20,000 villages drought-free in the next five years. Of the estimated annual outlay of Rs8,500 crore, the state hopes to raise Rs3,000 crore through corporate social responsibility initiatives of multinational companies (MNCs), NGOs and development funds from the elected representatives.

Representatives of at least 10 MNCs were present at a review meeting convened by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday. The government made the presentation of draft plan to the companies that plan to participate in the programme. The government has promised to give credit to the companies that make a sizable contribution to the project.

“Representatives of Adani, Reliance, Larsen and Turbo, HUL Foundation, Asian Paints, Mahindra & Mahindra attended the meeting. We are expecting funds from them,” said an officer from the water conservation department.

The Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and Shirdi Temple Trust have announced their contribution of Rs34 crore each to help 34 districts under the programme. A few other NGOs, too, have come forward to adopt 400 villages.