Maharashtra Government to acquire loan to finish on-going irrigation projects

09 Aug 2019 CW Staff

The proposal to acquire a long-term loan of Rs 150 billion has been approved by the Maharashtra Cabinet towards the completion of on-going irrigation projects in the state.

The step is a move in the direction of increasing irrigational capacity by approximately 0.29 million hectares, in the span of three years facilitated by the additional funding. Subsequently, 891 million cubic meters of water storage will also become available, thereby, cultivating a more efficient irrigation mechanism.

Currently, the under-construction projects amount to 313 with a total cost of Rs. 935.7 billion.

Annually, the Water Resources Department is allotted Rs 100 billion by the State Government, with a focus on garnering additional funds by pursuing various sources- which is inclusive of seeking assistance from the Central Government and taking loans through NABARD.

The projects to benefit from the loan are spread over Vidarbha, Marathwada and run along the rest of Maharashtra. Apart from these, reportedly, 26 projects have been shortlisted under the Prime Minister's Irrigation Scheme. NABARD has warranted Rs 192.51 billion as a long-term loan for the selected ventures at an interest rate of 6 per cent. The Central Government has also put in an extra funding of Rs 31.47 billion.

Additionally, Maharashtra Government’s special scheme - Baliraja Sanjivani, umbrellas over 91 projects that belong to farmer suicide affected areas as well as drought stricken lands as a means of providing relief to farmers.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..