Maharashtra water resources department gets Rs 7,272 crore for FY16

MUMBAI: A budgetary allocation of Rs 7,272 crore has been given for water resources department in 2015-16 with target to create water storage of 725 tmc and bring 69,664 hectare under irrigation during the period, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said.

Mahajan said out of the total allocation, Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation has been allocated Rs 3,302 crore, while Amravati division was provided Rs 1,892.78 crore for its irrigation backlog.

He said during the next one year, 41 projects under five irrigation corporations - Krishna Valley, Tapi, Godavari, Vidarbha and Konkan, will be completed.

The minister said the thrust will be on completing pending projects, creating water storage and irrigation capacity.

"Ongoing projects which have incurred more than 75 per cent expenditure will be prioritised," Mahajan said.

Gosikhurd national project has been allocated Rs 700 crore while Rs 100 crore for other inter-state projects.