Rs 15,000 cr loan to complete irrigation projs

NPnews24 Online Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a proposal to take loan of Rs 15,000 crore to complete the ongoing irrigation projects. The decision will help in completion of ongoing works within three years.

There are 313 under-construction irrigation projects with a total cost of Rs 93,570 crore currently. The State gives Rs 10,000 crore every year to the State Water Resources Department and attempts to raise more funds from other sources for project completion.

The cabinet also decided to set up a committee to regulate encroachment on government lands in rural areas. The committees headed by the district collector at every district.

The cabinet also gave its approval to give 3.20 hectares of land in Navegaon in Gadchiroli district for a Kendriya Vidyalaya.

Similarly, under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and Shravan Bal Seva Pension Scheme, the government increased the grants to widows and senior citizens respectively.

“The amount for destitute beneficiaries has been increased from Rs 600 to Rs 1,000.

For widows with one child, the amount will be Rs 1,100, while those with two children will get Rs 1,200. The annual expenditure for this would be Rs 1,648 crore,” the statement from the chief minister’s office (CMO) said.