Uma assures adequate funds for Vidarbha, Marathwada projects

Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti today assured the Maharashtra government that 132 projects worth Rs 7,188 crore in 14 districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions would be treated as 'special projects' and promised adequate funding for them.
She was speaking at a meeting here today with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to review projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
Out of the 132 projects, 98 are in Vidarbha (Rs 4,098 crore) and 34 in Marathwada (Rs 3,090 crore) region, she said.
The PMKSY is a national mission to improve farm productivity, achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level, and expand cultivable area.

Bharti also agreed to take up 67 drought-prone area projects and Tapi Mega Recharge Project on priority basis, Fadnavis said.
"She also agreed in principle to complete 26 Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme projects of the state under PMKSY in 60:40 ratio, for irrigation," the CM said.

A special joint team of the Union and state government will be set up to prepare a plan for Gosikhurd project and report will be submitted within 15 days, Fadnavis said.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan were also present during the meeting.
Fadnavis also extended birthday greetings to Bharti.