MUMBAI: State government had approved a cost escalation of Rs 33,000 crore and given revised administrative approvals to 205 incomplete irrigation projects in the state.
Irrigation minister Girish
Mahajan said that all these projects were pending for the last several years and the congress-NCP government didn't not give funds to these projects leaving the cost to escalate and the projects to drag on.
"There are in all 307 such pending projects of which 205 has been given revised approvals by us and we are prioritising their completion," said Mahajan. He also said that the remaining projects will take the cost escalation to Rs 40,000 crore.
Mahajan said that there were several reasons for the rise in cost. Increase in the cost of raw materials, expanding the scope of work, land acquisition cost has gone up and also there were some changes in the design of the project or additions to make it more useful.
The congress- NCP government was rocked by allegations of allotting mass tenders in the irrigation department without following the tender clauses.
"Once these projects are completed 3.5 lakh hectares of land will come under irrigation," said Mahajan. He also said that there are 26 proposals under the
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana which when completed will bring 5 lakh hectares under irrigation.
(Representative image)
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