The World Bank has greenlit funding for a comprehensive flood management initiative aimed at redirecting excess rainwater from Kolhapur and Sangli regions to drought-affected Marathwada in Maharashtra. The project, with a total cost of Rs 3,326 crore, will receive Rs 2,328 crore in financial aid from the World Bank, while the remaining Rs 998 crore will be contributed by the state government.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis initiated this ambitious project during his tenure as the state’s Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019. However, after the 2019 Assembly elections, the project was temporarily shelved when the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government assumed power. In June 2022, following the BJP-led coalition’s return to power, Fadnavis revived the project. The primary goal of the initiative is flood management in Sangli and Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra, diverting excess floodwater from these regions to alleviate drought conditions in Marathwada through advanced technology.
Official records indicate that a World Bank team visited the flood-affected Sangli and Kolhapur regions on September 12, 2019, and subsequently met with then-CM Devendra Fadnavis. The decision to move forward with the project was promptly made.
Fadnavis highlighted the project’s significance, stating, “The project would provide relief to both Western Maharashtra and the Marathwada region, addressing recurring drought in Marathwada and enhancing flood management in Sangli and Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra.”
Utilizing advanced technology, the initiative will involve extensive work in the Krishna and Bhima river valleys. The project aims to divert floodwater from Kolhapur and Sangli to Marathwada through various water structures, involving desilting and deepening rivers and tributaries. NITI Aayog has also issued a positive report on the project.