Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Rs4,775 Crore to Revive Decades-Old Bembla River Project
The Maharashtra cabinet has given its approval for a massive Rs4,775 crore to finally complete the Bembla river project in Yavatmal district. This decision breathes new life into an irrigation scheme that has faced delays and cost escalations for more than five decades.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired the cabinet meeting where this crucial decision was taken. The approval comes at a time when Yavatmal continues to grapple with severe agrarian distress. Many irrigation projects in the region have failed to deliver results despite heavy investments over the years.
A History of Delays and Rising Costs
The Bembla project was first conceived on October 16, 1983, with an initial estimate of just Rs50.76 crore. Officials formally sanctioned the project in 1992, but the cost had already ballooned to Rs190.36 crore by that time.
Since then, the project has undergone multiple cost revisions while achieving only a small fraction of its intended irrigation capacity. The scheme mirrors the trajectory of several stalled irrigation projects in Vidarbha, where timelines consistently slipped and promised benefits remained elusive for farmers.
Project Details and Expected Benefits
The Bembla project is built on the Bembla river near Khadak Sawanga village in Babhulgaon taluka. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation and forms part of the Wardha sub-basin of the Godavari basin.
Once completed, the project is expected to bring irrigation to 58,768 hectares of cultivable land across several talukas in Yavatmal district. These include Ner, Babhulgaon, Kalamb, Ralegaon, and Maregaon.
The irrigation potential will be created through a combination of different systems. These include canal distribution, lift irrigation, micro-irrigation, and closed pipeline systems. Specifically, 45,455 hectares will be covered through the right bank main canal, while the Dehni lift irrigation scheme will add another 6,968 hectares.
Recent Momentum and Central Support
The project regained significant momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a review meeting. During this meeting, he directed officials to complete the project within a stipulated timeframe. The scheme is also covered under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchan Yojana and undergoes regular reviews at the central level.
In January 2021, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the project site personally. During this visit, he sanctioned funds to restart the stalled works, demonstrating renewed political commitment to the long-delayed project.
Addressing Rehabilitation and Additional Benefits
The cabinet decision also addresses important rehabilitation issues linked to project submergence. An allocation of Rs89.32 crore was approved specifically for the rehabilitation of Mouza Dhamak village in Amravati district.
Officials stated that Chief Minister Fadnavis directed authorities to develop this village as a model rehabilitation settlement. Beyond irrigation, the completed project is expected to support drinking water supply and fisheries development in the region.
Controversies and Oversight
The Bembla project has not been without controversy over the decades. In 2015, a joint team from Jan Manch and Vidarbha Economic Development Council visited the site. They flagged what they described as prolonged administrative apathy and irregularities in execution spanning many years.
This latest cabinet approval represents a significant step toward addressing these historical issues. It aims to finally deliver the promised irrigation benefits to farmers in Vidarbha who have waited patiently for more than half a century.
