Maharashtra To Develop Comprehensive Water Conservation Blueprint: Soil And Water Conservation Minister Sanjay Rathod

Mumbai: In a major step to enhance the efficiency of water conservation efforts across Maharashtra, Soil and Water Conservation Minister Mr. Sanjay Rathod has directed the preparation of a revised and comprehensive plan for the department.

The decision was taken during a high-level review meeting at Mantralaya, attended by senior officials of the department and various regional water conservation authorities.

To facilitate this, a two-day workshop will be organized in Pune, bringing together water experts, subject specialists, and departmental officers. During the meeting, Minister Rathod also announced the cancellation of 1,267 pending projects dating back to the year 2000, due to prolonged delays and lack of progress.

Additionally, he instructed officials to inspect and report on projects that have been pending, delayed, or completed since 1991, ensuring accountability and transparency.

Strategic Focus on Rural Development

The Soil and Water Conservation Department plays a crucial role in the economic development of rural Maharashtra, focusing on natural resource management. The department oversees critical schemes such as watershed development, soil conservation, micro-irrigation, and barren land rehabilitation. To streamline and strengthen its operations, the department will draft a revised master plan under expert supervision.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Rathod stated, “Water conservation is the backbone of rural areas. A revised plan is essential to introduce technical improvements and make the department more efficient.”

Pending and Incomplete Projects to be Cancelled

Several water conservation projects have been stalled for years due to technical challenges or local opposition. Minister Rathod confirmed that 872 projects under the department and 395 under the Corporation will be cancelled. For projects initiated between 2001 and 2006, officials have been instructed to re-evaluate and resubmit proposals, which will help reduce financial burden and prioritize actionable initiatives.

District-wise Booklet on Jalyukt Shivar to be Published

Highlighting successful programs like Jalyukt Shivar, Galmukt Dharan, and Galyukt Shivar, Minister Rathod announced plans to publish detailed district-wise, divisional, and state-level booklets. These will include success stories, current status, and project progress updates.

He also proposed the reclassification of departmental posts to titles such as Superintendent Engineer, Executive Engineer, and Deputy Engineer for water conservation, and called for an immediate submission of this proposal.

Accelerated Execution of Key Projects

The Minister emphasized speedy completion of Mama Talav projects in drought-prone regions and called for strengthening of Amrit Sarovars and water springs through local inspections. As a pilot initiative, each division will inspect five springs. Minister Rathod will personally monitor district-wise progress and has directed officials to prepare an action plan accordingly.

Officials Present at the Meeting

The meeting was attended by Department Secretary Mr. Ganesh Patil, Managing Director of the Water Conservation Corporation Mr. Sunil Kushire, and regional officers from Pune, Thane, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, and Nashik divisions.