Mumbai, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday directed officials to prioritise and accelerate water conservation projects that can be completed within a short timeframe, stating that the looming El Nino crisis should be viewed as a "blessing in disguise" for water conservation.
He said that the state government is taking a serious note of the alerts issued by various meteorological organisations regarding El Nino for the upcoming monsoon season.
The government is fully prepared to manage any potential water scarcity. CM Fadnavis was speaking at a meeting to review the status of various projects amid the El Nino crisis.
Directing the launch of a crash programme to repair dysfunctional Kolhapur-style weirs (Kolhapuri Bandharas) across the state on a priority basis, CM Fadnavis suggested exploring the feasibility of converting damaged weirs into bridge-cum-weirs using an 'arch method'.
He emphasised that, instead of launching new water conservation projects, the primary focus must remain on repairing and maintaining existing ones.
According to the government release, the Kolhapur-style weirs in the state fall under the jurisdiction of both the Water Resources Department (976) and the Soil and Water Conservation Department (1,367). Once repairs to the non-functional weirs are completed, an additional 239,181 hectares of irrigation capacity will be generated across the state.
Furthermore, he directed the Disaster Management Department to identify regions in Maharashtra that have historically experienced severe drought and to submit a report on the mitigation measures implemented during those periods. This data will be used to deploy tailored or modified relief measures this time.
Given the limited time window available to finish these projects, the execution process must be expedited. Funds for repairing the damaged weirs should be allocated through the District Planning Committee (DPC). Additionally, alternate metal-free methods should be explored during the repairs to ensure a permanent, long-term solution.
The Chief Minister directed that a specific agency be designated and given complete responsibility for these tasks. Considering the impending weather situation, only fast-tracked water conservation projects should be undertaken.
The Irrigation Development Corporations have been granted full operational authority to streamline and execute these actions, he said. Alongside repairing the damaged Kolhapur-style weirs, a programme must be initiated to strengthen existing water bodies.
Speaking on the energy sector, the Chief Minister noted that a robust ecosystem for solar energy generation is developing within the state's agricultural sector. This generated solar power must be distributed effectively to optimise transmission and prevent strain on the MSEDCL grid.
He also recommended launching skill development programmes at the village and tribal hamlet levels for the maintenance of solar equipment, thereby simultaneously generating employment for local unemployed youth.
CM Fadnavis further stated that dedicated planning is required for districts with high agricultural power consumption, such as Solapur, Ahilyanagar, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
In these regions, feeders often trip due to overloading, disrupting the continuous power supply to farmers. To mitigate this, a system should be designed to seamlessly transfer power loads between feeders, preventing grid failures.
Source: IANS
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