Maharashtra govt nod to Rs 12,773-crore Nabard loan for 26 irrigation projects

Under the PMKSY there are 99 irrigation projects across the country. The total loans sanctioned for all these projects works out to Rs 77,595 crore of which the biggest component of Rs 12,773 crore has been sanctioned for Maharashtra. The entire Rs 12,773 crore would be utilised between December 2016 and December 2019. The Centre has also provided Rs 3,830 crore for these projects.

The list of projects include Baghur, Bawanthadi, Nimmna Dudhna, Tillari, Nimmina Pankhara, Nandur Madhmeshwar, Gosikhurd, Urdhva Painganaga, Benbala, Tarli, Dhombalkavdi Arjuna, Urdhva Kundalika, Krushna Koyna, Urdhva Irrigation scheme, Gadnadi, Sangola, Khadagpurna, Morna, Nimma Pendhi, Vang, Nardave and Kudali. A few months ago the union water resources ministry led by Uma Bharati signed an agreement with NABARD for the loan.

Last year, the chief minister thrice meet the union water resources minister and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to push the projects.

The state Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan has been pursuing on priority to take forward these incomplete major and medium irrigation projects.

Among pending projects is Gosikhurd National Irrigation Project at Bhandara in Vidarbha region. The total cost of the project is Rs 16,000 crore. Work almost worth Rs 8,000 crore has been completed in the last three decades.