{
  "id": 1950747,
  "title": "Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: 304 Hectares Of Farmland Enriched Under ‘Galmukta Dharan’ Scheme",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/chhatrapati-sambhajinagar-304-hectares-of-farmland-enriched-under",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T13:37:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/chhatrapati-sambhajinagar-304-hectares-of-farmland-enriched-under-galmukta-dharan-scheme"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district of Maharashtra, approximately 304 hectares of farmland have been enriched through the 'Galmukta Dharan' scheme, also known as 'Silt-Free Dam, Silt-Enriched Farmland'. This initiative, which has benefited 3,314 farmers, is led by Narendra Katke, the Executive Engineer of the Soil and Water Conservation Department. The scheme aims to boost water storage by removing silt from lakes, check dams, and streams, and then enriching soil fertility by spreading the silt over agricultural fields. Over the past three years, 302 projects under the scheme have received administrative approval, with 255 fully completed. During this period, 36.38 lakh cubic meters of silt have been excavated and spread across 304 hectares of agricultural land, directly benefiting the 3,314 farmers. Eligible farmers receive a subsidy of ₹35.75 per cubic meter for transportation, capped at ₹15,000 for up to 2.5 acres, which totals ₹37,500. Additionally, the State Government compensates voluntary organizations for machinery and fuel costs, paying ₹37.75 per cubic meter for silt removal. This process not only enhances water storage capacity but also improves groundwater recharge, raises the groundwater table, and promotes the growth of beneficial soil microorganisms, according to Katke.",
  "summary": "Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Around 304 hectares of farmland in the district have been enriched through the effective implementation of the ‘Silt-Free Dam, Silt-Enriched Farmland’ scheme (Galmukt Dharan, Galyukt Shet), benefiting 3,314 farmers, said Narendra Katke, Executive Engineer of the Soil and Water Conservation Department. ‘Silt-Free Dam, Silt-Enriched Farm’ is a significant scheme of the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}