The Ahilyanagar district, which falls in the drought zone, has seen some of the significant water schemes implemented by the Fadnavis government in this area to battle drought. The most crucial of them is the 50-year-old Nilwande Dam project, approved in 1970 but completed during the tenure of Devendra Fadnavis. The dam with its left canal was inaugurated and dedicated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2023. The government also took steps to save the lives of agricultural animals during drought by starting fodder camps in the district. Apart from the water schemes, the Fadnavis government undertook various other developmental projects for this district, such as establishing state-level laboratories in the city and a civil court in Rahuri. The following are some of the notable initiatives and steps taken by the Fadnavis government towards the development of the Ahilyanagar district.
Nilwande Dam project of the seventies completed by Waterman Devendraji!
The Nilwande Dam and its 85 km long left canal were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 26, 2023. This critical project in the Ahilyanagar district was stalled for the last 50 years. The left canal of this project is currently releasing 191 cusecs of water. The work on the 97 km long right canal of the dam is ongoing. The cost of the project has seen a mammoth escalation due to delay, from Rs 8 crore in 1970 to Rs 5,117 crore now. The dam, through its left and right canals, is expected to bring 68,878 hectares (170,200 acres) of agricultural land in 182 villages of Akole, Sangamner, Rahata, Shrirampur, Kopargaon, and Sinnar talukas in Nashik under irrigation. Except for 2,312 hectares of agricultural land in 6 villages of Sinnar taluka, 66,266 hectares of agricultural land in Ahmednagar district are coming under irrigation.
Rs 61 crore scheme for drought-affected areas
Under the Tukai Upsa Irrigation Scheme in Karjat taluka, water will be released into 20 percolation ponds in drought-affected areas. The water in these ponds will be used for drinking and irrigation. For this, a scheme worth Rs 61 crore 3 lakh 24 thousand 265 was given administrative approval in the cabinet meeting on December 20, 2018.
To overcome the water shortage in the Kokamthan area, a piped water supply project is currently being implemented. The approval for the same was given in the cabinet meeting on February 22, 2018, including providing 3.33 hectares of land to the irrigation development corporation for implementing this project here.
The success of the Jalyukt Shivar scheme has resulted in increased groundwater levels and water storage in the Katewadi and Rajuri areas of Ahilyanagar. The villagers are convinced that the scheme helped their agriculture. Due to the Jalyukt Shivar scheme of the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, 800 villages in Ahilyanagar district became water empowered. Between 2015 and 2017, the state government dug 1,200 wells and 5,000 farm ponds in this district.
Civil Court at Rahata
The Cabinet meeting held on 20th December 2018 approved the setting up of a Civil Judge (Senior Level) Court at Rahata in Ahilyanagar. The Cabinet approved 18 regular employees and 2 casual employees for this civil court.
Hostel for OBC students in Ahilyanagar
Devendra Fadnavis, during his first term as the Chief Minister, had approved the construction of hostels for OBC students in 4 districts of Vidarbha, namely Nagpur, Yavatmal, Washim, and Ahilyanagar in Maharashtra in August 2019. While the hostel in Nagpur was to have a capacity of 500 students, the hostels in Yavatmal, Washim, and Ahilyanagar would have a capacity of 100 students each.
A new police administration building and the state-of-the-art Crime Investigation Center were also established by the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Ahilyanagar on November 16, 2016. A solar power project was inaugurated by CM Fadnavis at Ralegaon Siddhi on November 4, 2017, under the Mukhyamantri Saurkrishi Vahini Yojana. He also approved establishing the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Agriculture College in the Jamkhed taluka and performed its groundbreaking ceremony on January 1, 2018.
Establishment of state-level laboratories in the city
Citizens should get prompt and proper treatment for infectious diseases, whether known or new types. For this, the Fadnavis government had decided to establish state-level labs in 16 districts of the state, including Ahilyanagar.
Settlement of a long-drawn-out land compensation issue
In 2016, Devendra Fadnavis had settled a long-drawn-out land compensation issue of Kesharbhai Darade in Thate village of Shevgaon taluka of Ahilyanagar district, which had been going on for 39 years. To resolve this dispute, the concerned were paid a compensation of Rs 33.76 lakh.
Veterinary college and Cooperative
After assuming the responsibility of the Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister in 2022, Devendra Fadnavis took several beneficial decisions for the Ahilyanagar district. During his 2023-24 budget speech, he announced the setting up of a new veterinary college in Ahilyanagar district and the establishment of the Maharashtra Sheep and Goat Cooperative Development Corporation in the state for the Dhangar community’s development in Maharashtra, with its headquarters in Ahilyanagar. Interest-free loans of Rs 10,000 Crore were also announced for the Dhangar community people through this cooperative.
In this way, Devendra Fadnavis implemented schemes through various means to develop the Ahilyanagar district.