“Permanent Barrage on Krishna River Soon ?” – MLA Amit Gorkhe

Gorkhe Raises Starred Question; Minister Assures Action

Pimpri : In a strong push for long-pending irrigation demands, MLA Amit Gorkhe raised a starred question in the Legislative Council, highlighting the decades-old water crisis faced by farmers in Masur, Tambwe and nearby villages in Karad taluka of Satara district.

Despite being located along the Krishna River, farmers in nearly 10–12 villages continue to struggle for water every summer. Gorkhe pointed out that temporary mud bunds are constructed every year to store water, costing lakhs of rupees, only to be washed away during the first monsoon floods. Local farmers have been demanding a permanent solution for years, but the issue remained unresolved.

Taking serious note of the concern, State Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil assured the House that the government is committed to resolving the issue. Instead of repairing old structures, the government has decided to construct a permanent barrage on the Krishna River as a long-term solution.

The minister informed that technical survey work for the proposed barrage has already begun and assured that there will be no shortage of funds for the project.

Speaking after the session, MLA Amit Gorkhe said the demand of farmers from the Masur-Tambwe region is genuine. “Every year, crops are either washed away during monsoon or damaged due to lack of water in summer. A permanent irrigation system is the need of the hour. I have raised this issue to stop financial wastage and ensure sustainable water supply,” he said.

The development has raised hopes among local farmers, who are now expecting concrete action from the government after years of waiting.