Maharashtra: CM Eknath Shinde Urges NITI Aayog To Expedite West-Flowing River Water Diversion To Marathwada
Eknath Shinde likely to resign as Maharashtra CM today
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has called on NITI Aayog to accelerate the long-discussed project to divert excess water from the west-flowing rivers to the drought-prone Marathwada region. During a meeting of the governing council in Delhi on Saturday, Shinde emphasized the urgency of making Marathwada water-sufficient, highlighting the need for all-party support to push this ambitious project forward.
Stakeholders claim that the diversion of 22.9 TMC of water has been a topic of discussion for almost a decade, and concrete steps must be taken to address the chronic water scarcity in Marathwada. The CM stated that a significant amount of rainwater currently flows into the sea, which could instead be redirected to the Godavari basin in Marathwada. He urged the central government to assist in expediting the river-linking project, while the state government implements a Rs 14,040 crore scheme for the water diversion.
Shinde’s plea has received backing from various stakeholders. Water rights activist Abhijeet Dhanorkar stressed the importance of MPs from all parties pressuring the Centre to support the water diversion. “The desired diversion has remained a poll rhetoric so far, but it is a positive sign that the demand is now formally being raised before the Centre. All political parties should join hands to seek help from the Centre in the multi-crore project,” he said.
Mohan Phule, from the advocacy group Marathwada Janta Vikas Parishad, described the water diversion as a potential boon for farmers. “The growth of Marathwada has been arrested due to water issues. If the region becomes water-surplus, there will be industrial and other growth. It will put a check on migration from Marathwada to metros such as Pune and Mumbai,” he explained.
Despite repeated attempts, Beed MP Bajrang Sonawane of NCP (SCP), Osmanabad MP Omraje Nimbalkar of Shiv Sena (UBT), and Latur MP Shivaji Kalge of Congress could not be reached for their comments.
As the project gains momentum, stakeholders and political leaders alike underscore the necessity for unified support to transform Marathwada’s water landscape and drive regional development.
