New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced that a 20-year-old water dispute has finally been resolved, as the decks have been cleared for Maharashtra to receive 10 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of water.

A favourable decision was also reached regarding lifting 5 TMC of this allocated share directly from the Ukai Dam. This was the outcome of a meeting of the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan held in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Briefing the media about the key outcomes, Fadnavis stated that, following the completion of the Narmada Project, Maharashtra had received only electricity, while its rightful share of 10 TMC of water remained unallocated. Today’s meeting successfully addressed this long-pending grievance.

Furthermore, positive decisions were made regarding outstanding funds and other unresolved issues. Maharashtra now owes a mere Rs 27 crore, with the remaining previously demanded dues waived.

Despite completing rehabilitation, Maharashtra has not received a single drop of water since the project’s inception.

Fadnavis said Maharashtra had requested 5 TMC of water through the Narmada-Tapi diversion scheme and the remaining 5 TMC from the Ukai project. The meeting concluded with an encouraging decision on this request. Gujarat has agreed to allow Maharashtra to lift this water during the monsoon season when the Ukai Dam is full.

He expressed his gratitude to Shah, Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, and the chief minister of Gujarat.

The chief minister added that the Maharashtra government is currently drafting a systematic blueprint to lift water from the Ukai Dam, a move that will immensely benefit the districts of North Maharashtra.

Further, Fadnavis shared details of a review meeting on Maharashtra’s renewable energy sector, chaired by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi.

The chief minister thanked the Union minister for allocating 51 per cent of the country’s total KUSUM (Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) scheme funds to Maharashtra, the highest allocation for any state in India. Maharashtra has requested continued and enhanced cooperation under the revised KUSUM scheme.

In response, the Union minister urged Maharashtra to set and achieve more ambitious targets under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The state government has assured that the necessary reforms will be implemented to ensure the effective execution of these schemes.

The chief minister expressed confidence that the central government will continue to provide the required funding and technical support to Maharashtra in the future.

–IANS

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