Mumbai, June 16: The Maharashtra government is set to launch a dedicated initiative to expedite the removal of silt from rivers and drains across the state. In a meeting held on Tuesday, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule instructed officials to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) for silt removal in Nagpur and Amravati districts without delay. He also announced that district collectors would be granted the necessary powers to ensure effective implementation of these tasks.
Minister Bawankule emphasized that removing silt from rivers and drains is a pressing need. These efforts are crucial for water conservation, groundwater recharge, and flood control. Therefore, a clear SOP will be established to accelerate operations in Nagpur and Amravati. The state government will soon introduce a new dedicated plan for silt removal from drains. Empowering district collectors will enable these tasks to be completed more efficiently and swiftly.
The meeting was attended by Soil and Water Conservation Minister Sanjay Rathod, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Ashish Jaiswal, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Khadke, and senior officials from the Revenue and Water Conservation departments.
Heavy silt accumulation in several rivers and drains in the Nagpur and Amravati divisions is disrupting the natural flow of water, reducing storage capacity, and adversely affecting groundwater levels, irrigation systems, and flood control during the monsoon. To address this issue, a separate SOP will be developed to carry out silt removal tasks more effectively and in a timely manner.
The meeting also reviewed delays in approvals from various departments, regulations related to silt removal, and the challenges faced at the local level. To expedite the decision-making process locally, it was decided to grant district collectors the necessary administrative powers.
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