Area under irrigation in Maharashtra will be doubled: Nitin Gadkari

AURANGABAD: Union water resources minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said the area under irrigation in the state would be increased from existing 18% to 40% by undertaking concerted efforts.
“The issue of irrigation is crucial in Maharashtra. The pact between Gujarat and Maharashtra for Damanganga-Pinjar project is in final stages of making. The project will have financial outlay of Rs 25,000 crore of which 90% share would be borne by the Centre.Once completed, the project will help in drawing water towards Jayakwadi dam,” Gadkari said.
While chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has already pledged efforts for bringing in 50 TMC water for Marathwada from Damanganga river and Pinjar reservoir, Gadkari also backed the plan.
The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) — a Central body that runs under the aegis of ministry of water resources — has already proposed Damanganga-Pinjal Link. It proposes to divert surplus water available at Bhugad and Khargihill reservoirs in Damanganga basin to Pinjal dam. It will transmit water to Mumbai for meeting the domestic and industrial demands.
While NWDA proposal related to Damanganga-Pinjal Link so far is silent on diverting water towards Godavari Basin, the latest announcement made by the chief minister is believed to be an indication of further modification in the project charted out in the light of Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR).
On the proposed water linking project, Gadkari said the initiative has incorporated 30 major projects that would be completed at the cost of Rs 8 lakh crore. The BJP leader also painted a grim picture of sugar industries in the country, saying the sector was receiving backing only out of concern for farmers.
“International forces decide prices of sugar in global market. The cost of sugar production in Brazil is lesser as compared to India, and therefore we cannot export sugar in bulk. Also, the fear always exists of sugarcane farmers getting raw deal if bumper production takes place. The government has been doing balancing act amidst all these constraints,” he said while inaugurating the cane crushing season at a sugar factory in Chittegaon.
On a lighter note, Gadkari said 16 MLAs and four MPs from the BJP would lose the next election if he chooses to shut down the sugar factory in Nagpur.