The central government has decided to provide assistance to complete eight major and 83 minor irrigation projects in Marathwada, Vidarbha and other drought-prone areas of Maharashtra, an official statement said today.
These projects would help in addressing the agrarian distress by creating an additional irrigation potential of 3.77 lakh ha. The estimated balance cost of these projects is Rs 13,651.61 crore, the Union Water Resources Ministry said in the statement.
"The expenditure finance committee of the Union Finance Ministry appraised and accepted yesterday, the proposal of the Water Resources Ministry to provide Central Assistance for completion of balance works of 83 Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) projects and 8 major/medium irrigation projects of Vidarbha, Marathwada and drought-prone areas of rest of Maharashtra," it added.
Maharashtra can avail of the assistance through a National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development loan, according to the statement.
The SMI projects would be completed in two years and the major/medium projects would be completed in phases by 2022-23, the ministry said.