The Hindu Business Line : `Private participation must for water resources development projects'

Implementation of water resources development projects on fast track to cope with the ever-growing demand of water and power has become need of the day. And to achieve this in a time-bound manner, more budgetary allocation and participation of private sector would have to be sought, Mr Ram Raje Naik Nimbalkar, State Minister for Water Resources, has said here today.

Speaking at the Seminar on Roller Compacted Concrete Dams organised by the Central Board of Irrigation and Power and INCOLD (Indian Committee on Large Dams), he said that in Maharashtra, about 1,485 dams as per INCOLD definition has been constructed. He said that large number of major, medium and minor irrigation projects have also been undertaken by the Water Resources Department to bring in maximum possible area under irrigation.

By the end of June 2005, he said 21 major, 186 medium and 2,106 state sector minor irrigation projects have been completed and an irrigation potential to the tune of 40 lakh hectares has been generated. Besides this, 55 major, 121 medium and 852 state sector minor irrigation projects and 48 lift irrigation projects are under construction in the State.

Mr Nimbalkar said the State Government has laid maximum emphasis on the development of hydropower potential. Forty-one hydropower projects having a total installed capacity of 3,183 MW have been completed and about 4,300 million units generated through the projects annually are being fed to the national grid.

He said the Government has put in place a comprehensive policy of private sector participation in development of small hydro projects.

According to the Minister,the State Government has received response from private developers and the has already developed three small hydroprojects through private sector participation and another 23 are at various stages of development.

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