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  Irrigation department wants Rs 10,000 crore this year

Irrigation department wants Rs 10,000 crore this year

Published : Jan 21, 2016, 5:16 am IST
Updated : Jan 21, 2016, 5:16 am IST

With incomplete dams and deficient rainfall this year, the irrigation department fears that less land has been irrigated and has demanded more funds for the next financial year 2016-17.

With incomplete dams and deficient rainfall this year, the irrigation department fears that less land has been irrigated and has demanded more funds for the next financial year 2016-17. The department has sent a proposal for Rs 10,000 crore to finance and requested the chief minister to raise an additional Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 crore by selling bonds.

“We have asked a budgetary provision of Rs 10,000 crore for the next financial year as lot of works are pending. The irrigation department had got Rs 7,000 crore last year but needs more for the coming year. We have also requested the CM to raise an additional Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 crore by selling bonds and taking loans to complete the irrigation target within a stipulated period,” said water resources minister Girish Mahajan. There is need for a total Rs 90,000 crore to complete pending projects, he said.

In 2015-16, the department has completed 39 small projects, creating an irrigation capacity of 71,411 ha. The rainfall might affect irrigation capacity this year, but final figures are awaited, said Mr Mahajan. The irrigation figure is usually compiled from water resources, revenue and agriculture departments.

The department also approved revised costs for 135 projects, out of which a majority are in the drought-affected Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, the minister said.

The department has also undertaken a programme to generate 2.19 lakh ha irrigation capacity in three years in 14 suicide-prone areas of Vidarbha and Marathwada, the minister said. A recruitment drive has also been conducted at various levels including engineers so that administrative works get pushed.

The minister admitted that incomplete works of dams have little hassles like rehabilitation and compensation to the affected people. Also, at some places, the canals are not ready to provide water to surrounding areas. Some of the projects are mired in corruption and some cases are even before the court.

“This time also, we have given priority to projects which are nearing completion,” he said.