Eknath Shinde seeks Central aid for ambitious water project in arid Marathwada

Maharashtra CM Shinde hopes for Central aid for Marathwada water-grid project. Announced ₹45,000 cr development package for region. Criticized Uddhav Thackeray for lack of political will to develop Marathwada. Shinde's govt renamed Aurangabad and Osmanabad. Claimed MVA would've regressed Maharashtra had it stayed in power.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on September 17 he hoped the Narendra Modi-led Central government would financially aid the water-grid project in the arid Marathwada region.

Mr. Shinde was speaking in Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) on Marathwada Liberation Day.

“The State government has earmarked ₹15,000 crore for the Marathwada water-grid project. We have also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assistance and are confident of securing support from the central government,” said Mr. Shinde, adding that the State government was trying to divert excess during the monsoon towards the Godavari river basin.

Mr. Shinde said Maharashtra would implement the NaMo 11-point programme - an array of welfare measures, to commemorate the PM’s 73rd birthday.

“The first programme will be called the ‘NaMo Women Empowerment Campaign’ under which various government schemes will cover 73 lakh women. As many as 40 lakh women will be connected with self-help groups, while 20 lakh more will be connected with ‘Shakti groups’,” Mr. Shinde said.

The CM earlier hoisted the flag to mark the 75th Marathwada Liberation Day, observed annually to mark liberation of the region from the yoke of the Nizam of Hyderabad by Indian forces on September 17, 1948. The region comprises Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded, Latur, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Osmanabad and Hingoli districts.

At a special cabinet meeting held in Sambhajinagar on Saturday, Mr. Shinde had announced a development package of over ₹45,000 crore for the region.