Maharashtra govt to set up water management units along major irrigation projects

However, an audit shows that the deployment of workforce is disproportionate. While there are more than the required number of workers and construction units, there is no mechanism for the management of the irrigation projects, which are languishing because of poor maintenance and repairs.

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Citing an example, sources said, “We have 484 executive engineers for 380 irrigation projects where the work in undergoing. Apart from these, there are various categories of officials and workforce.” The construction units which were built for other completed projects have remained operational with the same workforce. As a result, officials and workers have very little work at the construction units.

The course correction is part of the government’s new policy on irrigation projects which is in its implementation stage.

An official in the water resources department said, “To begin with, we have identified such construction units which need to be shut down. And relocate the workforce to its management unit in the same vicinity or different districts.”

According to the estimate, the total investment in irrigation projects which have been completed till date goes up to Rs 70,000 crore. Whereas, the total investments required for completion of all the ongoing projects and those which have been approved requires Rs 1.25 lakh crore.

The new policy comes after directives from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to focus on water management and maintenance of the irrigation projects.
Fadnavis has emphasised the significance of water management. “Water should be treated as economic commodity,” he said.

Fadnavis has repeatedly urged to scale the existing infrastructure through high maintenance for water management. “The problem is not lack of resources, but how well we manage and maintain our existing resources including water,” he said.

In a candid admission, a senior secretary said, “For the last several decades, water resources department’s main function was to sanction the irrigation projects and allocate funds. For the first time, we are not only working towards minimising the expenditure and curtailing the waste but also mobilising available sources, including workforce, for better management,” said the secretary.