The Prime Minister’s flagship platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, PRAGATI, has marked a significant milestone with the successful conduct of its 50th meeting. Since its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, PRAGATI has transformed governance by enabling real-time monitoring and resolution of key infrastructure projects and public grievances through direct Prime Ministerial review.
The platform exemplifies cooperative federalism, bringing together the Centre, States, and Union Ministries on a single digital interface. Over a decade, PRAGATI has helped accelerate decision-making and resolution of issues causing delay in key infrastructure projects and instilled a strong culture of accountability. Today, in this special series, we take a look at the Bembla Irrigation Project in Maharashtra.
The Bembla Irrigation Project, implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, represents a key irrigation initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural resilience in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Sanctioned on 2nd April 2007 at an approved cost of over two thousand 685 crore rupees, the project is located in Yavatmal district and is centred on the Bembla River.
Conceived as a major multi-tehsil irrigation scheme, it envisages extending assured irrigation benefits across different tehsils, addressing chronic water stress and improving farm productivity in this drought-prone region. Despite substantial physical creation of assets, the project encountered persistent implementation challenges that constrained its completion and delayed the delivery of intended benefits. Recognising the importance of the project, the matter was taken up for review under the PRAGATI mechanism.
The project was reviewed by the Prime Minister on 25th October 2023, at which clear and outcome-oriented directions were issued to the concerned Central Ministries and the Government of Maharashtra to resolve the pending issues in a coordinated and time-bound manner. Specific emphasis was placed on expediting land acquisition, completing balance canal lining works through improved planning and resource mobilisation, and addressing contractor-related impediments that were holding up the Dehani Lift Irrigation Scheme.
Following the PRAGATI review, execution momentum improved markedly. The State Government intensified field-level monitoring and adopted a multi-pronged strategy to accelerate works. The Bembla Irrigation Project was commissioned on 30th June last year. The experience of the Bembla Irrigation Project illustrates how PRAGATI functions as a governance accelerator, converting long-pending implementation challenges into time-bound action and ensuring that major public investments translate into tangible benefits on the ground.
