Maharashtra government cancels approvals for 903 projects

Maharashtra cancels approvals for 903 development projects to prevent misallocation of funds and pave way for new initiatives.

Directions for the cancellation of administrative approvals for 903 development projects were issued by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday (June 6, 2025), stalling permissions granted for new projects and schemes.

The projects include irrigation schemes, core dams, percolation tanks, and storage tank repairs. According to the Government Resolution (GR), schemes that are not operational due to land acquisition issues, local opposition, or lack of cooperation from contractors are to be cancelled. 

The decision, announced by the Soil and Water Conservation Department, aims to prevent further misallocation of funds, and pave the way for new projects. The Maharashtra government aims to scrap the stalled initiatives and expects to allocate resources efficiently, the resolution stated. 

Some schemes that faced public opposition have been pending at the regional level due to the non-commencement of work for over three years. The government clarified that it was not possible to fulfil the demands of the people’s representatives.

“It is necessary to cancel the administrative approval of the schemes that have remained closed for more than three years so that it will be possible to provide administrative approval to new, necessary schemes within the limits of the department’s liability, and farmers will benefit by the creation of irrigation areas in the State,” an official said. 

Tenders related to schemes for which administrative approvals have been cancelled will also be called off.