Jadhav asks Jal Shakti Minister Patil to clear Rs 35,000 crore for remaining Jigaon project works

Union Minister of State Prataprao Jadhav has asked Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil to immediately approve the proposed Rs 35,000 crore fund for the remaining works of the Jigaon project. He made the demand in a written letter, which he sent to Patil on October 14.

The Jigaon project is considered very important for bringing farmland in Buldhana and Akola districts under irrigation. Once it is completed, 1,16,770 hectares of farmland in 287 villages will come under irrigation. These lie in six talukas of Buldhana district, namely Shegaon, Jalgaon Jamod, Sangrampur, Nandura, Malkapur and Khamgaon, and in two talukas of Akola district, Balapur and Telhara.

The letter states that the project has a water storage capacity of 26.01 TMC. About 80 per cent of the work of the first phase has been completed. A large fund is now needed to complete the remaining works of the second phase.

To speed up the remaining works, a proposal was submitted through the Central Water Commission's e-PAMS, the electronic project appraisal management system. Jadhav wrote in the letter that he was himself present at the meeting held in this connection. The meeting decided the way forward, and the chairman of the Central Water Commission was asked for a fund of Rs 35,000 crore for the remaining works. He also wrote that the necessary paperwork has been completed.

Jadhav also referred to the present situation in the letter. According to him, a drought-like situation has arisen in Buldhana and Akola districts because of lack of rain, and the state government has also declared a drought. In such circumstances, it is necessary to give farmers assured irrigation.

He said that once the Jigaon project is completed, a large area in both districts will benefit from irrigation. This could help raise farm yields and cope with future droughts. Jadhav therefore demanded that the Centre immediately approve the Rs 35,000 crore needed for the remaining works and help complete the project quickly.