All Water Supply Schemes In Rural Maharashtra To Run On Solar Power, Says CM Devendra Fadnavis 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) will not disconnect rural water supply over non-payment of power bills as they run on solar power, ET Energy World reports.

Further, the CM recognised Energy Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule for initiating the scheme to supply water supply during the inauguration of the 111 water supply schemes at the divisional commissioner’s office.

Fadnavis said the BJP-Shiv Sena government had approved 20,000 rural water supply schemes while completing 8,000 schemes that were passed in the previous regime. “We have also sanctioned 10,000 more schemes,” the Maharashtra CM said.

The ceremony was also attended by Bawankule, Minister of water supply Babanrao Lonikar, additional chief secretary of water supply, Shyamlal Goyal, divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar and others.

“We have constructed 60 lakh toilets to make Maharashtra open defecation free. We will provide broadband connectivity to 10,000 villages,” Fadnavis said while adding schools, gram panchayat offices and public health centres will now be able to communicate with Mantralaya officials to solve their problems directly.

Further, they will also be providing internet connectivity to 30,000-gram panchayats to “make them smart”, Fadnavis said.

Fadnavis also highlighted the government's efforts to make the villages greener. He said 20 crore saplings have been planted by the government which wants to plant 23 crore more.

“Gram panchayats should take the initiative in planting trees. Those doing it will be declared green gram panchayats and rewarded,” he added.