M'shtra govt launches Rs1860-cr irrigation project

The Maharashtra government has launched an ambitious Rs 1860-crore Water Sector Improvement Project (WSIP) to realise the state's full irrigation potential.

The World Bank is aiding the project by providing a soft loan of Rs 1,550 crore. The main objective of the project is to bridge the gap between Maharashtra's potential created and actual utilsation.

With the 286 projects implemented so far, nearly 6.7 lakh hectors of land could be brought under irrigation but at present only around 40 to 45 per cent land of the 6.7 lakh hectors could be provided with irrigation facilities.

Under this program, repairing and rebuilding of dams, canals and integration of irrigation projects would be carried out to promote optimum utilisation of water. Necessary measuring devices would be installed and dam safety works would also be carried out.

The main feature of the project is that the beneficiary farmers, through their associations, would manage the projects and will also contribute towards the cost of the project. Their share would be Rs 35 crore. Once this project is completed, total irrigated land would rise by 20 per cent subsequently raising food grain output by 3 lakh tonne per year, and horticulture products and vegetables output by 1 lakh tonne.

In monetary terms, production of agriculture would increase by around Rs 300 crore. This will benefit 33,600 families coming in the WSIP area.

Speaking at the function organised to launch the project, India director of the World Bank, Micheal Carter said, "This project is an inspiring challenge not just for Maharashtra but also for entire India. It would be model for other states in India.''

"This project is aimed at increasing agriculture productivity and reducing poverty in rural India. The project would increase farmer's income by 50 per cent", he added.

Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, deputy chief minister R R Patil, irrigation minister Ramraje Nimbalkar were also present at the function.