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Nashik : State govt, facing rainfall deficits and drought-like conditions in several regions, will fast-track nearly Rs 1 lakh crore worth of river diversion and water grid projects to carry surplus water to Marathwada, north Maharashtra and western Vidarbha, water resources minister Girish Mahajan said. Girish Mahajan said, “Kumbh Mela Dhwajarohan (flag hoisting) programme will be held on Oct 31 at 12.02 pm simultaneously at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.
“We are at the juncture of announcing tenders worth Rs 1 lakh crore, the biggest such plan in the country, to ensure entire Maharashtra is drought-free,” Mahajan said. He said basin-wise integrated plans had been prepared to divert surplus water flowing into the sea to drought-prone regions. “The govt is keen on resolving the issue and the same will be announced by the chief minister soon,” Mahajan said.
The flag hoisting will be done by President Droupadi Murmu at one of these locations. The details are being worked out and the formal announcement would be made soon.”
Simhastha Kumbh Mela Preparations on Schedule in Nashik
Preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar are progressing as planned, according to Mahajan. The work is currently undergoing third-party quality checks, ensuring that there is a strict zero-tolerance policy for any delays. This approach underscores the importance of timely execution in managing such a significant event.
Responding to recent frauds involving bogus job orders and tender documents, Mahajan said, “This is an unfortunate scam where fraudsters issued fake job orders and tender documents worth Rs 100-150 crore and extracted money from them. As soon as this came to light, complaints were registered and seven to eight key accused in this racket have been arrested and are in jail for the past two-and-a-half months. Strict action will continue against anyone trying to misguide the public or defraud the system. ”
Mahajan said tenders would be floated in phases of around Rs 25,000 crore over the next few months. “By implementing the scheme, we will supply water across eight districts and bring over 10 lakh acres of land under cultivation, besides providing water for drinking and industrial purposes.
This is in line with CM Fadnavis’ assurance that Marathwada will not see drought anymore,” he said. Mahajan said authorities had been directed to immediately conduct panchnamas of crop losses. “Local administrations have also been directed to prioritise drinking water distribution and reservation over industries and agriculture,” he said.