Taking a cue from the Gujarat pattern of common water grid for ensuring water supply to the thirsty and drought-prone Kutch region, Maharashtra government will follow the Gujarat Grid model for providing water to Marathwada region.

The state Cabinet in principle gave its nod for an ambitious grid plan which would be functional in the next 3 to 4 years after spending Rs2000 to Rs3000 crore, informed minister for sanitation Babanrao Lonikar. Lonikar said that he along with finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and 22 government officers paid a visit to Gujarat to see the Gujarat Grid model. A detailed presentation was made for the entire Cabinet for about one hour after which chief minister Devendra Fadnavis asked Lonikar to go ahead with the project.

The Cabinet has asked the chief engineers concerned, superintending engineers and technical advisors to submit a report in the next 15 days about details of pipelines, storage tanks and other details about Marathwada.

Lonikar informed that there are various water supply schemes which are run by the state government and local bodies which will now be clubbed and all the eight districts of Marathwada will be supplied water through one separate grid for Marathwada.

He said that Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh are also following the Gujarat Grid model and eventually other states will also have to follow the same. He added that there are 4,002 tankers deployed in Marathwada while Nashik division has 1,127 water tankers deployed. He also informed that while Pune division has deployed 489 tankers, Konkan has deployed 120, Amravati and Nagpur divisions 353 and 26 tankers respectively. He informed that out of a total 6,118 tankers deployed in the state, Marathwada is supplied water with 4,002 tankers.

Lonikar on revenue dept post

When asked whether he will be replacing Eknath Khadse and get the charge of revenue department, Lonikar said: "I am happy with sanitation and water supply, which is a department close to prime minister Narendra Modi's heart. Maharashtra is the number one state when it comes to open defecation-free villages and I would like to carry on this work."