State govt approves Rs 49.26 crore funding for water diversion scheme for Trimbakeshwar to bring about 165 hectares under irrigation

Nashik: State govt has approved funding of Rs 49.26 crore for the Amboli-Velunje Flow Diversion Scheme in Trimbakeshwar taluka of Nashik district to likely bring about 165 hectares of land under irrigation.The scheme is proposed on a stream of the Val River in the Daman Ganga basin. It aims to divert water that currently flows westward towards the Arabian Sea, redirecting it eastward into the Godavari basin. “The project is expected to make available a total of 32.04 million cubic feet of water,” a senior officer from the water resources department said.Of this volume, 4.83 million cubic feet has been allocated for local use, while the remaining 27.21 million cubic feet will be diverted to the Godavari basin through a flow-based system. “Out of the total sanctioned amount, Rs 46 crore has been earmarked for construction work, while Rs 3.26 crore will be used for ancillary activities,” the officer said.The Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC) will oversee the process of assigning a unique infrastructure ID to the project. “The budget allocation includes Rs 13.46 crore for land acquisition, Rs 24.33 crore for construction work, Rs 3.9 crore for bridges and Rs 3.7 crore for connectivity infrastructure, with the remaining amount set aside for miscellaneous expenses,” the officer added.Igatpuri-Trimbakeshwar MLA Hiraman Khoskar welcomed the decision, calling it a much-needed initiative for the region. “Given the hilly terrain, large-scale irrigation may not be feasible. The scheme will, however, help irrigate small land parcels, benefiting local farmers, particularly those from tribal communities and contributing to regional development,” the MLA said.