Nagpur.
Vidarbha gets lot of rains. But as there is no rain water harvesting, every year problem of water scarcity is being faced. If we want freedom from water scarcity, water harvestation and proper use of rainwater is essential, said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis here on Sunday.
A district level Jalyukta Shivar programme was organised at Vasantrao Deshpande Hall,Civil Lines, onSunday. The workshop was inaugurated by Union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari while concluding programme took place in presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. On the occasion, guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, working president of State Ideal Village Concept and project executive committee Popatrao Pawar and secretary of rural development department Prabhakar Deshmukh were present on the occasion.
Chief minister said that 82 per cent farming in the state is rain fed. “If all dams are in the state are built, only 40 per cent irrigation facility will be available. So the only option available is water harvesting and Jalyukta Shivar programme for this purpose only. It has been proposed to make 5,000 villages in the state every year free from water scarcity. No programme is made successful through participation of the government. People”s participation is also important. So, transform Jalyukta Shivar programme into people”s movement and make Nagpur district free from water scarcity,” chief minister appealed.
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04 April 2025
On the occasion, guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and MLA DMallikarjun Reddy also spoke on the occasion. Prabhakar Deshmukh made introductory remarks Renuka Deshkar conducted the proceedings while district superintendent agriculture officer Dr Archana Kadu proposed a vote of thanks.
Member of Parliament Krupal Tumane, MLAs Sudhakar Kohale, Sudhir Parve, AnilSole, Vikas Kumbhare, Sameer Meghe, Dr Milind Mane, president of Nagpur Zilla Parishad Nisha Savarkar, vice-president Sharad Donekar, district collector Shivaji Jondhale, officials of agriculture, rural development, water conservation, sarpanchs, nodal officers and others were present on the occasion.
Keep track of water usage
Role of water is very important in development of village and it should be used carefully. So sarpanch of every village should keep record of water usage, said State Ideal Village Concept and project executive committee Popatrao Pawar. He also asked audience to think about water scarcity in Vidarbha though this region gets lot of rains. He emphasised on importance of water harvesting and sarpanchs should implement Jalyukta Shivar scheme by taking people into confidence. Pawar also claimed that Maharashtra is first state in the country to make provision of ` 1000 crore for water conservation.
Guardian minister”s pledge
Guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule declared his aim to make 1800 villages in district in next four years. He also said that in next four years, there would be no need to prepare action plan for water scarcity. He also informed that 6 pockland machines and 13 tippers have been purchased to do works of Jalyukta Shivar scheme.
1 crore from Tumane
Secretary of rural development department Prabhakar Deshmukh appealed that people”s representatives should give help from their development funds to Jalyukta Shivar scheme. Responding to this, Member of Parliament Krupal Tumane announced ` 1 crore for this programme. He also said that farmers will get benefitted from Jalyukta Shivar scheme.
Presence of very less sarpanchs
This workshop was organised for 313 sarpanchs in 313 villages selected for Jalyukta Shivar scheme and nodal officers. But however only small number of sarpanchs were present in the workshop. When Popatrao Pawar asked about how many sarpanchs were present in the workshop, only 4 to 5 sarpanchs raised their hands.
Make village self-sufficient
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Jalyukta Shivar scheme can benefit farmers a lot as it would make every village self sufficient in terms of water. This scheme should be implemented seriously as days number of days of rainfall due to climate change is going down, he said. The water conservation works being done in Jalyukta Shivar programme are not for officials to fill their pockets with public money. Quality works are expected in this programme and government would keep close attention on every work through modern technology, said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Fadnavis was speaking during concluding function of district level workshop of Jalyukta Shivar programme held at Dr VasantraoDeshpande Hall, Civil Lines, on Sunday. guardian minister of Nagpur district Chandrashekhar Bawankule was present as the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Fadnavis while explaining importance of Jalyukta Shivar programme, appealed officials to make Nagpur district free from water scarcity and work in Nagpur district should serve as pilot project for entire country. He further said, “It is generally believed that water conservation works are meant for earning money. But Jalyukta Shivar programme is not for this purpose. Works should be of high standard. I will visit any village in Nagpur district and inspect work and keep tab on works going on through modern technology. Every care will be taken to ensure that no irregularities are committed in any work. Officials should work in Jalyukta Shivar programme as part of social responsibility.”
State government has taken up Jalyukta Shivar programme to make Maharashtra free from water scarcity. Government intends to implement this project in Nagpur district as ideal project since chief minister hails from here. The workshop was organised for nodal officers, people”s representatives and sarpanchs of gram panchayats selected for this programme. Members of Legislative Assembly and senior officials were present in the workshop.
