New Delhi, July 7 (IANS). Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced that the 20-year-old dispute over water has finally been resolved, paving the way for Maharashtra to get 10 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water.
A positive decision was also taken to take 5 TMC of water directly from Ukai Dam out of this allotted share. This decision was taken in the meeting of Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Briefing the media about the main outcomes of the meeting, Fadnavis said that after the completion of the Narmada Project, Maharashtra had received only electricity, while its due share of 10 TMC of water was not allocated. This long standing grievance was successfully resolved in today’s meeting.
Apart from this, positive decisions were taken on outstanding funds and other unresolved issues. Now Maharashtra owes only Rs 27 crore and the remaining amount demanded earlier has been waived off.
Despite the completion of rehabilitation work, Maharashtra has not received even a drop of water since the project started.
Fadnavis said Maharashtra had demanded 5 TMC water through the Narmada-Tapi Diversion Scheme and the remaining 5 TMC water from the Ukai project. The meeting ended with an encouraging decision on this demand. Gujarat has agreed that Maharashtra can take this water during the monsoon season, when the Ukai dam is full.
He expressed his gratitude to Amit Shah, Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The Chief Minister said that the Maharashtra government is currently preparing a systematic plan to bring water from Ukai Dam, which will greatly benefit the districts of northern Maharashtra.
Additionally, Fadnavis briefed about a review meeting held on Maharashtra’s renewable energy sector, which was chaired by Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi.
The Chief Minister thanked the Union Minister for giving 51 per cent of the country’s total KUSUM (Farmers Energy Security and Upliftment Mahabhiyan) funds to Maharashtra, which is the highest allocation for any state in India. Maharashtra has requested for continued and improved support under the revised KUSUM scheme.
In response, the Union Minister urged Maharashtra to set even bigger targets and achieve them under the ‘PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme’. The state government has assured that necessary reforms will be made to implement these schemes effectively.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the Central Government will continue to provide necessary funding and technical assistance to Maharashtra in future also.
–IANS
PSK/DKP
