Chanvan said till date proposals of central assistance

under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) worth Rs 1,847 crore are sent to the Centre, which are pending at various stages. The Union Government has sanctioned central assistance of Rs 16.65 crore only against the proposals sent in 2012-13. The proposals needed to be cleared immediately to ensure release of central assistance before the financial year ends. Proposals of Nerdhamna barrage, Tembhu LIS and Urmodi major projects are sent to the Centre for inclusion in AIBP scheme. These projects are benefiting saline track and the drought-prone area of Vidarbha and western Maharashtra, he said. Other issues discussed were the Brihanmumbai Storm Water Drain (BRIMSTOWAD) project, Navi Mumbai airport, proposed railway projects, environmental clearances, boundary dispute with Karnataka among others. When BJP MP Piyush Goyal spoke on Gujarat taking a lead over Maharashtra in terms of industrial investment, Pawar said Gujarat may have been leading in terms of Marketing. "But, Maharashtra is the numero uno state in terms of industrial preference," he said.