Maharashtra to get 10 TMC water from Narmada Project as 20-year-old issue resolved: Fadnavis

Mumbai, Jul 7 (PTI) Maharashtra will get 10 TMC water from the Narmada Project with the resolution of a long-pending inter-state issue during a meeting of four states chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. The meeting chaired by Shah was held in New Delhi, where Fadnavis and his counterparts from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan - Mohan Yadav, Bhupendra Patel and Bhajan Lal Sharma, respectively, along with Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, were present, an official release issued here said. In the statement, Fadnavis said the nearly two-decade-old issue was settled at the meeting. Maharashtra would receive its allocated 10 TMC water, of which five TMC would come through the proposed Narmada-Tapi diversion scheme and another five TMC would be lifted from the Ukai dam during the monsoon period when surplus water is available, he said. Gujarat agreed in principle to allow Maharashtra to lift water from the Ukai reservoir during the rainy season, and the proposal received the approval of Shah and Patil, Fadnavis added. The Maharashtra CM said the state had so far received only electricity from the Narmada Project despite being entitled to 10 TMC of water after the project's completion. He added that several pending financial issues were also resolved, with the state's outstanding liability reduced to Rs 27 crore after the remaining dues were waived. The Maharashtra government will now prepare a detailed implementation plan for lifting water from the Ukai dam, he said, adding that the additional water would significantly benefit districts in north Maharashtra. Separately, Fadnavis said that at a review meeting chaired by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, he sought enhanced central support for renewable energy programmes in the state. He thanked the Centre for allocating 51 per cent of the total funds under the Kusum scheme to Maharashtra and sought greater assistance under the revised scheme as well. He said the Centre had also urged Maharashtra to set higher targets under the PM Surya Ghar programme and assured continued support for the state's renewable energy initiatives. After the completion of the Narmada Project, Maharashtra only received electricity from it, but the state's share of 10 TMC of water had not been received. In view of this, an important decision was taken in today's meeting. Positive decisions were also made regarding many other pending issues, including the funds due to the state. Now, only Rs 27 crore is due to Maharashtra, and the remaining due amount has been waived. Maharashtra had demanded 5 TMC from the Narmada-Tapi Diversion scheme and 5 TMC from the Ukai project out of its share of 10 TMC of water. Gujarat has expressed willingness to lift water during the rainy season - when there is water in the Ukai dam, with Shah and Patil approving it, Fadnavis said. PTI MR NP