Flood to Field: Maharashtra's Water Management Masterplan

Maharashtra is moving toward becoming both drought- and flood-resilient, as the state government accelerates irrigation projects and advances plans for large-scale floodwater diversion.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that irrigation coverage has expanded across most regions, with only Akola, Buldhana, and Hingoli districts having pending works, which are expected to be completed shortly. In Vidarbha, irrigation currently covers 13.34 lakh hectares, with just 49,000 hectares remaining. Major projects such as Jigaon and Gosikhurd are expected to substantially enhance irrigation capacity.

A key initiative, the Wainganga–Nalganga river-linking project, estimated at nearly ₹1 lakh crore, will bring 4.04 lakh hectares under irrigation. In addition, the state plans to divert 30–55 TMC of floodwater from flood-prone districts including Kolhapur and Sangli to drought-affected regions.

Highlighting the scale of water loss due to flooding, the Chief Minister noted that over 100 TMC of water is wasted annually, and that diversion projects could reclaim at least 30–35 TMC. With statutory approvals progressing and detailed project reports (DPRs) nearing completion, the state aims to convert water-deficit areas into productive green belts in the coming years.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.