The Maharashtra cabinet on Thursday approved a new scheme under which a sum of Rs 1,340 crore will be spent over three years to enhance irrigation capacityand create additional water bodies.

The chief minister water conservation programme is being implemented after the MVA government discontinued the previous BJP administration''s ''Jalyukt Shivar'' project that involved deepening and widening of streams, construction of cement and earthen stop dams and digging of farm ponds.