Declare Krishna-Marathwada irrigation scheme as a national project: MP Rajenimbalkar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jul 15 (PTI) The Krishna-Marathwada lift irrigation scheme, aimed at preventing droughts in the central Maharashtra region, should be declared a national project, Osmanabad MP Omprakash Rajenimbalkar said on Wednesday. Rajenimbalkar was among the six Lok Sabha MPs who crossed over from the Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena last month. These MPs recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding issues concerning their constituencies, he said. During their hour-long meeting with Shah, he made the request regarding the Krishna-Marathwada lift irrigation project, Rajenimbalkar told PTI over the phone. Shah heard their issues patiently, he said. “The primary demand I made was to grant the Krishna-Marathwada irrigation project the status of national importance. This will bring central funds and speed up the work,” he said. The MP said that other demands, including a Kendriya Vidyalaya, were also made for his constituency. “We have good connectivity with a national highway and train services. The district could be ideal for establishing a logistics hub. The Union Home Minister heard about the issues and said they can be taken up during the upcoming Parliament session,” Rajenimbalkar said. The lawmaker also said he was committed to “removing the tag of aspirational district from Dharashiv (earlier Osmanabad) and making it more prosperous”. The Krishna Marathwada irrigation project is a major lift irrigation scheme designed to divert 23.66 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the Krishna river basin to the drought-prone Marathwada region, comprising eight districts, including Dharashiv. PTI AW NR