Maharashtra Cabinet clears revised policy for desilting irrigation dams to improve storage capacity

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday (May 14, 2026) cleared a host of proposals, including a revised policy for silt removal from irrigation reservoirs aimed at enhancing their water storage capacity and providing fertile silt to farmers.

Six such dams will be taken up on a pilot basis, said officials.

The government said the move will help increase reservoirs’ storage capacity, conserve dams and make nutrient-rich silt available to farmers for use in their fields.

The Cabinet, at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, decided that candidates from reserved categories who have availed of relaxations in age, educational qualifications, experience or number of attempts in examinations will henceforth be appointed only against reserved quota vacancies and will not be eligible to claim appointment to open category posts.

In another major decision, the Cabinet approved a revised organisational structure for the Soil and Water Conservation Department and sanctioned 8,767 posts, including 2,284 additional positions, to strengthen the department’s field-level machinery.

The Cabinet also decided to continue the 'Sindhuratna Samruddhi Yojana 2.0' for three more years in Sindhudurg district and Ratnagiri district to promote comprehensive development through better planning and utilisation of natural resources, said officials.

A provision of ₹49.26 crore was approved for the Amboli-Velunje diversion scheme project in Nashik district.

The State government approved an annual grant of ₹10 lakh to Kusumagraj Pratishthan from 2026-27 under the Maharashtra State Literature and Culture Board’s scheme for assistance to literary institutions.

It also approved an exemption from stamp duty on land acquisition required for the Nashik Parikrama Marg project.

The Cabinet increased the concession in development charges for buildings of medical institutions from 25% to 50% through amendments to the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966.

It approved amendments to the Maharashtra State Scheduled Tribes Commission Act, 2025 and the Maharashtra State Scheduled Castes Commission Act, 2025, to create the post of Vice-Chairperson in both commissions.

The Cabinet also approved the transfer of three government land parcels free of cost to the Pune Municipal Corporation for the Mula-Mutha River Rejuvenation Project.

In another decision, the government scrapped the orange import duty reimbursement scheme under which exporters to Bangladesh were given a 50% subsidy on import duty, saying the scheme was not benefiting farmers in the State.

The Cabinet further approved senior and selection grade pay scales for higher secondary teachers in private aided residential Ashram schools for Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes categories after completion of 12 and 24 years of regular service.