The Maharashtra Cabinet has given approval for the first phase of Marathwada water grid project.
The state government will develop 1,330 km water grid for the parched Marathwada region through hybrid annuity model (HMA).
The government has firmed up a plan worth Rs 25,000 crore for the proposed water grid under which water from dams and other reservoirs will be supplied through pipelines to all villages in water scarcity-hit region. The project will see laying of the main and secondary pipelines booster pumps and water purification network.
Phase-I of the project worth Rs 4,293 crore will be implemented in Aurangabad and Jalna districts. Phase-I will see 11 major dams in Marathwada connected with the grid of pipelines. In Aurangabad district 737 km and in Jalna 458.29 km pipelines will be laid down.
The request for qualification (RFQ) for the same will be invited soon.
Major dams, including Jayakwadi, Majalgaon, Lower Dudhna, Yeldari, Vishnupuri, Manjara, Mannar and Sidhdheshwar along with several medium and minor irrigation projects, cater to the Marathwada region. The state government had entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Israel-based Mekorot to prepare various reports on the development of the water grid.
The state government proposes to develop the water grid project on the pattern of Gujarat or Telangana water grid projects.
