Nitin Gadkari writes to Maha CM; suggest govt to form state Water Grid to prevent floods

Expressing concern over monsoon fury in Maharashtra, Union Minister Nitin Gkari has written a letter to state's Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and ors suggesting state to take up ambitious project of formation of a State Water Grid on lines of National Power Grid and Highway Grid. This would help in preventing floods that occur in Maharashtra every year causing loss of lives and property

Explaining idea, Gkari said that grid could divert floodwater from one river basin to ar in drought-prone areas of state.

"I am writing this letter to draw your attention toward serious issue of heavy loss of lives and property that occur in state of Maharashtra every year due to floods. floods create and trigger serious problems in different parts of state and re is an urgent need to chalk out a plan to man this natural disaster that becomes grave because of or man-me factors," Gkari said in letter dated October 14.

Furr listing benefits, Gkari mentioned that  areas with a short of water, scanty of rainfall can get relief by grid and ded that this would also help increase irrigation significantly and decline in number of suicides of farmers. He ded that fishing and or businesses can flourish alongside and major employment can be generated if such a project is taken up as essential infrastructure.

"Through you, Maharashtra government is requested to take initiative for preparations of DPR (detailed project report) for formation of a State Water Grid to overcome recurring crisis of floods. This would help government to ensure availability of water in drought-prone areas and save resources to man flood crisis," Gkari said.

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PM Modi Dials Maha CM Over Flood Situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and assured Centre’s support in ongoing rescue and relief work. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi apprised about his conversation with CM Uddhav Thackeray and assured solidarity with people of Karnataka who are affected by floods.

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Monsoon fury in Maharashtra

Heavy rains and floods have claimed at least 47 lives in Maharashtra's Pune, Aurangab and Konkan divisions in last three days while crops on lakhs of hectares were damd extensively, officials said.

Meanwhile, over 2,300 houses were damd in heavy rains and floods in Western Maharashtra where more than 21,000 people were moved to safer places, as per Pune Divisional Commissioner's office. "14 people died in Solapur, 9 in Sangli, 4 in Pune and 1 in Satara," said an official.

Crops such as sugarcane, soybean, vegetables, rice, pomegranate and cotton, spre over 57,000 hectares in Pune, Solapur, Satara and Sangli districts, have suffered dam.

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(with inputs from ANI)