Mumbai: The special cabinet meeting of Maharashtra government at Aurangabad today gave nod to outlay of Rs 4,817 crore for the first phase of a project to divert the water of Krishna river in western Maharashtra to the drought-prone Marathwada.

In the first phase, 7 TMC water would be diverted.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, during the 2014 poll campaign, had promised that BJP would promote the project to divert excess water from Western Maharashtra to Marathwada region, which has been a long-standing demand.

Marathwada is the biggest revenue division in the state and is known as a centre of foodgrain and pulses production.

The total demand of the region from Western Maharashtra is 21 TMC.

Krishna Basin Water Distribution Tribunal has allocated 81 TMC water to Maharashtra while rest of the water is allocated between downstream Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Of the 81 TMC, 10 per cent is the share of Marathwada.

It is to be noted that several experts and state officials from water resources department have objected to the diversion on the ground of high cost and opposition from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Maharashtra has been claiming that Western Maharashtra gets water from the heavy rainfall over Sahyadri range which is not stored completely. If through diversion, more water is stored, then it should be permitted.

As per the plan, some water from Krishna would be diverted to Bheema river through underground pipes. The second phase would see pumping of water from Ujani to the Manjara dam on the border of Beed and Latur districts.

PTI