Need Rs 30,000 crore to complete all irrigation projects: Girish Bapat
Irrigation minister Girish Bapat claimed in the Assembly on Tuesday that the state required Rs 30,000-40,000 crore to complete all irrigation projects in Maharashtra. With little provision from the budget for the irrigation sector, the state will take a loan of Rs 10,000 crore this year to complete the irrigation projects. Also, MLAs from Marathwada and western Maharashtra region had a heated exchange over the water crisis in both the regions.
“The incomplete irrigation projects need funds worth Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 crore to be completed. It will also take three years for their completion. We are going to take loan of Rs 10,000 crore this year and I have spoken to the chief minister and the finance minister in this regard,” Girish Mahajan said, as the budgetary provision for the department is only Rs 7,000 crore.
The irrigation minister said that the government had completed 28 projects last year and was aiming to complete 27 this year. It is expected that 1.6 lakh hectares of land would come under irrigation. The state has also given approval to 40 projects with escalated cost, the minister said.
However, Mr Mahajan’s revelation that Marathwada has no irrigation backlog started a heated debate. “Amaravati, Akola, Washim and Buldhana are the only regions in Vidarbha that have an irrigation backlog, not Marathwada. 7.5 tmc water is released for Jayakwadi dam in Marathwada,” the minister said.
NCP MLA Jaydutta Kshirsagar, who hails from Marathwada, objected to the comment. However, the irrigation minister remained firm. Another BJP MLA from Marathwada Prashant Bamb also asked about equal distribution of water to the region. However, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who hails from western Maharashtra, objected to it. He said the matter was sub judice and hence could not be discussed in the House. Soon, there ensued chaos among the MLAs from two regions.
Speaker Haribhau Bagde had to intervene and asked the House to proceed with other discussions.
