Maharashtra Govt Launches New Desilting Scheme for Vidarbha Rivers and Canals The Maharashtra government has announced a new statewide initiative to address the long-standing issue of silt accumulation in rivers and canals across Vidarbha, with a focus on the Nagpur and Amravati divisions. The plan, unveiled during a high-level meeting at Mantralaya, aims to streamline desilting and deepening operations to mitigate recurring water stress during summers and flooding during monsoons. Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule directed officials to draft a standard operating procedure (SOP) for these projects, emphasizing the need for faster implementation and reduced bureaucratic delays. The meeting, attended by water conservation minister Sanjay Rathod, minister of state for relief and rehabilitation Ashish Jaiswal, and senior officials, highlighted the urgency of the issue. Officials noted that excessive silt buildup in rivers and canals has disrupted natural water flow, diminished storage capacity, and negatively impacted groundwater recharge, irrigation systems, and flood management during heavy rainfall. The proposed SOP is expected to standardize approvals, clarify responsibilities, and ensure timely execution of desilting works. Bawankule stressed the importance of river and canal deepening for water conservation, groundwater recharge, and flood control. He announced plans to introduce a dedicated scheme for canal and river deepening across the state, stating that granting district collectors greater administrative powers would accelerate progress. “If district collectors are given the required powers, these works can be completed more effectively and at a faster pace,” he said.#nagpur #amravati #vidarbha #maharashtra_govt #mantralaya
Koradi Lake Revival Likely Soon as Pankaja Seeks Detailed Plan Maharashtra environment minister Pankaja Munde directed officials to prepare and implement a restoration and pollution-control plan for Koradi Lake in Nagpur district after revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule raised concerns over worsening environmental and public health conditions around the water body. During a meeting held at Mantralaya on Tuesday, Munde instructed the environment department to submit a detailed presentation within eight days outlining measures required for the lake's cleaning and long-term rejuvenation. The meeting was attended by Bawankule, Ramtek MP Shyamkumar Barve, and senior environment department officials. Spread across nearly 550 acres, the lake has been facing severe pollution due to untreated sewage flowing directly from four nearby municipal councils and several surrounding villages. Bawankule informed the meeting that although seven sewage treatment plants (STPs) were earlier established to prevent pollution, much of the infrastructure became outdated and ineffective, allowing contaminated water to continue entering the lake. Seeking immediate intervention, he urged the government to adopt a permanent solution to stop sewage discharge into the lake. Responding to the concerns, Munde said the state government would prioritize both environmental restoration and public health protection. She assured that long-term measures would be implemented to prevent polluted water from entering the lake in the future. "After the presentation is submitted, a final decision will be taken immediately and the action plan will be implemented on the ground," Munde stated.#nagpur_district #pankaja_munde #chandrashekhar_bawankule #mantralaya #koradi_lake
Maharashtra Approves Action Plan to Prevent Human Wildlife Conflict Forest Minister Ganesh Naik approved a Rs260 crore action plan on Tuesday to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the state. The initiative, announced during a meeting of the State Wildlife Board’s standing committee chaired by Naik at Mantralaya, includes the deployment of AI-based alert systems in 1,000 villages near forest areas and the establishment of 10 control rooms to monitor wildlife movement and coordinate emergency responses. The measures are set to be implemented immediately to address incidents of attacks on humans and damage to crops. The plan emphasizes the creation of 10 control rooms modeled after police control centers, equipped with advanced digital systems to track forest department vehicles, resources, and patrol teams. These rooms will serve as hubs for real-time monitoring and rapid response during conflicts. Naik highlighted that in the event of a conflict, the control rooms will alert officials and initiate immediate action. AI-based alert systems, which have been tested in select villages, will now be expanded to 1,000 villages adjacent to forest areas. These systems will provide residents with real-time updates on wildlife movement, enabling them to take preventive measures. Additionally, two rescue centers will be established for animals captured during conflicts, while 10 transit treatment centers will be set up to care for injured wildlife. To enhance rescue operations, rapid rescue teams will be formed at 20 locations, and 2,000 primary response teams comprising villagers will be established in forest-fringe communities to assist the forest department.#maharashtra #mantralaya #ganesh_naik #state_wildlife_board #principal_chief_conservation_forests
Maharashtra Govt Decentralizes Land Regularisation Powers, Collectors to Handle 90% of Cases The Maharashtra legislature on Wednesday passed the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2026, marking a significant shift in the state’s approach to land regularisation. The legislation, introduced by revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, empowers district-level authorities to handle the majority of cases involving breaches of land-use conditions. This decentralised framework allows collectors and divisional commissioners to resolve nearly 90% of such cases locally, aiming to reduce bureaucratic delays and improve access to administrative remedies for citizens. The bill replaces the previous system, where even minor land-use violations were referred to the state secretariat in Mumbai, creating a backlog and forcing citizens to make repeated trips to the capital. Bawankule highlighted that this centralised process placed an immense workload on the Mantralaya, the state’s administrative headquarters. Under the new system, only cases of exceptionally high value will continue to be handled at the state level, while routine matters will be resolved at the district level. The amendment addresses longstanding gaps in the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, which previously lacked clear statutory provisions for regularisation. This absence led to legal ambiguities and prolonged litigation, with many cases remaining unresolved for years. The new provisions, including Section 37A, introduce a codified legal framework to streamline the process and ensure uniformity in decision-making across districts. Officials noted that the lack of defined rules had created procedural uncertainties, often disadvantaging small landholders and businesses.#maharashtra_govt #chandrashekhar_bawankule #maharashtra_legislature #maharashtra_land_revenue_code #mantralaya
