Maharashtra seeking finance from World Bank for Marathwada water project: CM

The Maharashtra government is seeking finance from the World Bank for the Marathwada water grid project said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday reported the PTICM Shinde said that the government is also pursuing the matter with Prime Minister Narendra ModiCM Eknath Shinde met the divisional administration collectors and a few guardian ministers over the water situation in the region in central MaharashtraThe Marathwada water grid aims to connect all irrigation projects in the region to overcome the water crisis there It was conceived during the tenure of the Devendra Fadnavis government in the state between 2014 and 2019 and was then estimated to cost about Rs 40000 croreAsked about the water grid the CM Eknath Shinde said We are seeking finance from the World Bank and pursuing the matter with the prime ministerMarathwada receives an average annual rainfall of 751 mm This year the eightdistrict region has received 5899 mm of rainfall with a deficit of 2144 per cent The number of tankers ferrying water has risen to 1814 including 1249 villages and 512 hamlets here an official said as per the PTICM Eknath Shinde said the administration has been directed to clear tanker proposals in three daysEarlier a fund was given by District Planning Committees for fodder farming This produced good results and there is no shortage of animal fodderiquest he saidAsked about the funds announced for irrigation projects on September 17 last year on the Marathwada Liberation Day CM Shinde said We have given a lot to farmers A crop insurance scheme is being offered at Re 1 We are also giving Rs 6000 a year to farmersLeader of Opposition in Legislative Council Ambadas Danve claimed the meeting was a timepass and officials took selfies with fodderNo planning has been done about how available water in the region will be utilised till July if it doesnt rain in timeDanve also claimed that Maharashtra has lost a Rs 50000crore projectThe project by public sector undertaking Gail India has gone to Madhya Pradesh when they were looking for land in Dabhol and Chhatrapati SambhajinagarThe government should clarify why this company went from Maharashtra to MP Was there any pressure from the Centre to send this project to MP he asked according to the PTIAbout Ambadas Danves allegations CM Shinde said We dont plant bombs near industrialists homes We have eased the process for investors in the state Earlier when they opposition levelled allegations over the VedantaFoxcon project our government was two months old Later we brought a lot of investments and Maharashtra has become number one in terms of investmentwith PTI inputs