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Maharashtra moots Rs 55.6 billion Konkan, Tapi projects

The Maharashtra government may soon set up corporations for Konkan irrigation development and the Tapi valley irrigation.

The move is driven by the excellent response to the Krishna Valley Development and the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporations wherein, as against a targeted sum of Rs 2.5 billion, Rs 6.52 billion was raised from the people. Funds collected for the Krishna valley and Vidarbha irrigation projects were a massive Rs 4.25 billion and Rs 2.27 billion respectively.

According to a senior Shiv Sena leader, the state cabinet's decision in this regard is expected within a week. The aim is to generate development work to the tune of Rs 55.6 billion for both the projects.

As much as 70 per cent of this amount would raised from the public, as in the case of the Vidharba project. The balance would be contributed by the state government.

Under the Tapi Valley Irrigation Corporation project, 300-325 tmc water will be provided for bringing under cultivation an additional 500,000 hectares of land over the present 31,000 hectares of land. The Konkan and Tapi projects would irrigate an extra 551,000 hectares of land.

The fund-raising programme will begin in December-January, according to sources close to Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi.

Work is in progress in Vidarbha and Krishna valley creating development work of Rs 4 billion. Under the Krishna Valley Development Corporation, Rs 8.20 billion is being utilised and works worth Rs 21 billion is being envisaged. For the Konkan and Tapi projects, the government hopes to raise Rs 1 billion and Rs 1.25 billion respectively from the people.

Out of the 225 small dams to be constructed under the Krishna valley project, 93 dams have been completed in one year. Major and medium dams are being constructed to complete the project with a record time. Work is in progress on the 93-km-long Bhima-Sina link canal along with all other small and medium projects in the Kolhapur district.

Compiled from the media by Prasanna D Zore