Addressing a press conference at Kalammawadi rest house after making survey of Major Dudhganga irrigation project work, Joshi said that his government has undertaken major task of 324 projects including major, medium and minor projects under Maharashtra State Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC) in the State.

Elaborating Maharashtra's irrigated land, Joshi said in 1947 some 800 hectare land was under irrigation, while by the end of 1995 some ten lakh hectare land was brought under irrigation.

He declared that 12 lakh hectares of land would be brought under irrigation in the span of five years according to the target set by his government.

Till this date his government has spent Rs 2,100 crore on different irrigation project under MKVDC he saidand added that according to estimated and targeted plan, Rs 1,400 crore would be needed during 1998-99 financial year for which government has tapped resources to raise the money. The estimated cost or the projects was Rs 7,100 crore, he informed.

The State has already got Rs 500 crore through recently issued public debenture from which major share would be utilised to pay MKVDC contractors which were pending since last few months and advised them that they should keep some patience, Joshi said while replying to a query.

He said that no work would be held up due to lack of cash-flow and added that he would visit the major sites every six months to review the work in order to fulfil their commitment.

Joshi hinted that after completion of total irrigation projects works water charges would be hiked reasonably to met incurred expenditure, but these will not be as grim a picture as created by the Opposition. Alliance government has given priority to rehabilitation works of farmers whose lands were undertaken by government for the projects, Joshi said and claimed that the work is being carried out satisfactory by covering major affected families and people with no alternative space and lands.

He said that the alliance government was also considering to temporarily employ those persons who have in government jobs before and in this connection they have undertaken the job of consolidating information, Joshi replied to a question.

Joshi said that there would be no power shortage in Maharashtra from December this year since the electricity would be available from Dabhol Enron Power Project, and disclosed that the BJP-led Union Government has also cleared the 800mw Patalganga Power Project the State Government will shortly take a decision in this connection.

Joshi also announced that Kolhapur city's development plan would be announced within a fortnight. He assured that he would personally look into the matter to re-establish the offices of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and MaharashtraState Small Scale Industry (MSSI) at Kolhapur, which were recently shifted to Ratnagiri.