Amid hype over water-grid, leaders push old schemes

  • | Monday | 22nd October, 2018

“Just imagine how large a diameter the pipes of the water grid project would have to be to carry such a huge volume of water,” he said. Among the water schemes discussed at the all-party meet, the diversion of nearly 11 TMC water from Upper Vaitarna dam into the Godavari basin by gravity and lift irrigation at a cost of Rs700 crore was mooted. The other key scheme was related to drawing nearly 23 TMC water from the Krishna River Basin for the benefit of districts such as Latur, Osmanabad and Nanded, which do not benefit much from the Jayakwadi dam. Notably, the state government in September last year had increased the scope of the project by including agriculture and industries under the list of beneficiaries along with households without adequate drinking water. “The cost is nothing considering the loan-waiver being given to farmers from the region due to poor monsoon,” he said.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis promoted the water-grid project during his official tours to the city and the region.

Aurangabad: Despite the state government promoting a multi-crore water grid project for Marathwada as a solution to the scarcity related woes, the all-party meeting held on Monday saw discussions and deliberations about pushing nearly half a dozen schemes, including a few old ones.BJP MLA Prashant Bamb, the convener of the event, was vocal about new schemes, which he said can fetch 189.72 TMC water for Marathwada for Rs20,200 crore. “The cost is nothing considering the loan-waiver being given to farmers from the region due to poor monsoon,” he said.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis promoted the water-grid project during his official tours to the city and the region. Addressing the Marathwada Liberation Day event here on September 17, Fadnavis had said that the proposed water grid project for Marathwada would channel water from 14 different key irrigations projects to quench the thirst of the drought-prone region.To a TOI query on the apparent contrast between his stand and plans of the government, Bamb said that the water grid project was confined to catering to only drinking water needs. Notably, the state government in September last year had increased the scope of the project by including agriculture and industries under the list of beneficiaries along with households without adequate drinking water. Babanrao Lonikar, Maharashtra Water Supply Minister, went on to say the project will be implemented in association with the State Water Resources Department and the State Industries Department.When told about this development, Bamb said it is not feasible for the water grid project to cater to the needs of agriculture and the industrial sectors. “Just imagine how large a diameter the pipes of the water grid project would have to be to carry such a huge volume of water,” he said. Among the water schemes discussed at the all-party meet, the diversion of nearly 11 TMC water from Upper Vaitarna dam into the Godavari basin by gravity and lift irrigation at a cost of Rs700 crore was mooted. The other key scheme was related to drawing nearly 23 TMC water from the Krishna River Basin for the benefit of districts such as Latur, Osmanabad and Nanded, which do not benefit much from the Jayakwadi dam.

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