Maharashtra: PM Modi dedicates Nilwande dam to people of Ahmednagar, performs Jal pujan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, October 26 performed the ‘Jal Pujan’ of Nilwande Dam, which is located in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district. He inaugurated the dam’s left bank canal network and also released the water from the Nilwande Dam. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar and Governor Ramesh Bais were also presented during the inauguration ceremony.

Prime Minister Modi posted a video on X where he was addressing a public rally after the Jal pujan. He stated, “I am fortunate that I got the opportunity to perform the Jal pujan. The people of Maharashtra have been waiting for the dam for the last 5 decades. The people who do politics in the name of farmers made you crave for the water.”

Celebrating the Jal Pujan of Nilwande Dam - a milestone that concludes our patient anticipation. 

Our dedication to channeling Jal Shakti for societal benefit shines brighter than ever. pic.twitter.com/dcjZjKy3oq

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2023

The 85-kilometre canal network will benefit 182 villages by facilitating pipe distribution networks of water. The idea of Nilwande Dam was first conceived in 1970. It is being developed at a cost of about Rs 5,177 crore, according to an official statement.

PM Modi also launched the 'Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana' which will be benefiting over 86 lakh beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in Maharashtra. The scheme will provide an additional amount of Rs 6,000 per year to them.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister performed puja at the revered Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple in Shirdi and offered prayers there. He inaugurated the new Darshan Queue complex at Shirdi. It is a state-of-the-art modern mega building envisaged to provide comfortable waiting areas for the devotees. The complex will be equipped with several waiting halls with a cumulative seating capacity of more than 10,000 devotees. It has the provision of air-conditioned public amenities like cloakrooms, toilets, booking counters, prasad counters, information centre etc.  

He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about Rs 7,500 crore across various sectors.