Nine community lift-irrigation schemes in the Dhamani area of Ambegaon taluka have remained shut for about a year because their electricity connections are pending, leaving farmers who invested around Rs 6 crore without the irrigation infrastructure they built for their fields, according to a report by Sakal – Pune.
Farmers from Dhamani and nearby Pargaon submitted a memorandum to Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday, asking him to intervene in the matter. The interaction took place near the right bank canal of the Dimbhe dam at Jarkarwadi, where farmers explained the status of the schemes and the difficulties caused by the lack of power supply.
The farmers reportedly pooled resources to establish nine collective lift-irrigation schemes in an area known for rain-dependent agriculture. According to the report, several farmers raised loans from credit societies and pledged jewellery to fund the projects, spending a combined amount of approximately Rs 6 crore. The schemes were intended to provide irrigation support in a region where farming is largely dependent on rainfall.
The electricity connections have reportedly not been provided by Mahavitaran after the state government adopted a solar policy for agricultural pumps. As a result, the schemes have remained non-operational for nearly a year, despite the farmers having already spent money on the physical irrigation projects. The report did not provide details of the specific technical or administrative conditions required for the pending connections.
The issue has previously been raised at the state level. Former cooperation minister Dilip Walse Patil raised a question about the matter in the Legislative Assembly, following which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reportedly gave an assurance that the issue would be considered positively. Former village sarpanch Sagar Jadhav and some farmers also held a hunger strike over the demand.
During that protest, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reportedly contacted the protesters through a video call and assured them that he would look into the matter. A meeting of the concerned department was subsequently organised at Mantralaya, according to the report. Farmers, however, said that no action had followed the meeting, leaving the schemes shut and the affected households uncertain about when power supply would be sanctioned.
The latest representation was submitted by Dhamani sarpanch Pratiksha Jadhav, along with Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) deputy taluka chief Mahesh Wagh, Bhausaheb Karande, Deepak Jadhav and Balasaheb Vidhate. Vishal Borhade and Wagh briefed Raut on the situation. Raut said he would speak with former Union minister Sharad Pawar and jointly pursue the issue, according to the report.
