more-in The BJP-led State government has received a boost to its electoral prospects, with the Centre clearing 91 irrigation projects for the drought-affected Marathwada and Vidarbha regions. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the implementation of a centrally sponsored scheme to complete 83 minor irrigation projects and eight major/medium projects. The projects are expected to create 3.77 lakh hectares of irrigation potential in the regions, at a cost of ?13,600 crore. Of this, the Centre will cover about ?3,800 crore. Farmers and trade representatives, however, have said much more should have been done in the first phase of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) - Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), under which the projects have been approved. Ashish Garde of the Marathwada Chamber of Commerce said, “While it is a welcome move that the Centre is chipping in with funding for irrigation projects, the sentiment here is that the parameters are a bit lopsided. For example, Vidarbha has got better project funding because of the higher number of farmers’ suicides as opposed to Marathwada. They could have done more in the first phase of PMKSY.” Overall, the Centre has shortlisted 132 projects under PMKSY in the State’s drought-prone talukas: 98 in Vidarbha and 34 in Marathwada, with an assurance of ?4,098 crore and ?3,090 crore, respectively. Another 67 drought-prone area projects (DPAPs) have been approved in districts where there have been several farmers’ suicides. Following the CCEA’s decision, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted: “Thank you @narendramodi ji & Union Minister@nitin_gadkari ji for Cabinet decision of 25%share by GoI in completion of 91pending irrigation projects in Vidarbha,Marathwada&other drought prone districts.” Senior officials said they have already pointed out to the Centre the desperate need to increase Maharashtra’s irrigation potential, currently pegged at 18%. The State has also requested central aid for the long-pending Ghosikhurd irrigation project and the Tapi recharge irrigation project. Senior NCP leader Nawab Malik said, “The State has not created any substantial irrigation potential under this government. All they have done is give revised cost approvals to projects worth ?40,000 crore.” The Centre has said utilisation of the irrigation potential created by the projects will generate more employment opportunities through increase in cropping intensity, change in cropping pattern, and agro-processing and other ancillary activities. The projects under the special package are separate from the 26 major/medium projects in the State funded under the PMKSY-AIBP. With the potential of 8.501 lakh hectare, these projects are slated to be completed by December 2019. The works will be monitored by the State and Central Water Commission, officials said.

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