The Maharashtra state government has approved funding of Rs 49.26 crore for the Amboli-Velunje Flow Diversion Scheme in Trimbakeshwar taluka of Nashik district. This project is expected to bring approximately 165 hectares of land under irrigation.
Project Details and Water Diversion
The scheme is proposed on a stream of the Val River within the Daman Ganga basin. Its primary objective is to divert water that currently flows westward towards the Arabian Sea, redirecting it eastward into the Godavari basin. A senior officer from the water resources department stated, “The project is expected to make available a total of 32.04 million cubic feet of water.”
Of this total 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. The officer further elaborated, “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.”
Infrastructure and Budget Allocation
The Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC) will oversee the process of assigning a unique infrastructure ID to the project. The budget allocation includes several key components: 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. The remaining amount has been set aside for miscellaneous expenses, as per the officer.
Local Response and Expected Benefits
Igatpuri-Trimbakeshwar MLA Hiraman Khoskar welcomed the decision, calling it a much-needed initiative for the region. He noted, “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.”
