Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed officials to prioritize and speed up water conservation projects that can be quickly completed, citing the El Nino threat as an opportunity for conservation efforts. The state government is alert to El Nino warnings for the upcoming monsoon and is ready to address any potential water scarcity issues. Fadnavis emphasized the need to repair existing Kolhapur-style weirs promptly instead of initiating new projects.
Directing the launch of a crash program to fix dysfunctional Kolhapur-style weirs on an urgent basis, Fadnavis proposed exploring the possibility of converting damaged weirs into bridge-cum-weirs using an ‘arch method’. Repairing these weirs is expected to increase irrigation capacity by 239,181 hectares once completed. The Chief Minister also instructed the Disaster Management Department to identify drought-prone regions in Maharashtra to implement tailored relief measures based on past experiences.
To expedite the project completion within a limited timeframe, Fadnavis allocated repair funds through the District Planning Committee and emphasized the use of metal-free methods for long-term solutions. He designated a specific agency to oversee the tasks and stressed the importance of focusing on fast-tracked water conservation projects given the impending weather conditions. Additionally, he empowered Irrigation Development Corporations to manage and execute the necessary actions efficiently.
Fadnavis highlighted the growing solar energy ecosystem in the state’s agricultural sector and emphasized the need for effective distribution of solar power to prevent strain on the grid. He proposed skill development programs at the village level for solar equipment maintenance to create employment opportunities for local youth. The Chief Minister also emphasized the necessity of dedicated planning for districts with high agricultural power consumption to prevent power disruptions and grid failures.
