BASIC

                                         (Beneficial Submergence Irrigation Certificate)

                                                               Jigaon Major Project

                                                       Tq- Nandura        Dist- Buldhana            

            The government acquires villages and lands for the submerged areas of irrigation projects in the state. Some landowners' lands fall under reserved and benefit areas. These landowners require "Purchase and Sale" and "Project Affected" certificates for the benefiting and affected areas. Under "Section 3 Subsection 1" of the "Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, 2015" out of the 10 public services to be provided to the citizens under the Water Resources Department, service number 5 includes the service of "issuing a certificate of benefiting and affected areas". Accordingly, the landowners apply directly to the project office. For this, the landowners must bear the time, expense, and trouble of travelling. Issuing these certificates incurs many office expenses, time, and workforce since the number of such applications is high according to the project scope.

            The Jigaon Project Irrigation Division has developed an innovative system called BESIC (Beneficial Submergence Irrigation Certificate) to issue "Beneficiary" and "Project Affected" certificates. These certificates are distributed online at no cost under the "Jigaon Project Irrigation Division, Shegaon." This system benefits project-affected landholders across 1,30,000 hectares, encompassing 407 villages. With the implementation of this online system, landholders can easily download their "Beneficiary" and "Project Affected" certificates from anywhere with just one click. Hon. Shri Devendraji Fadnavis, the then Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister, inaugurated the BESIC system on December 28th, 2023, at the Sahyadri Guest House in Malabar Hill, Mumbai.

            This digital innovation has brought about several benefits:

1. Ease of Access: Landholders can now download their certificates directly from the system at no cost, reducing the burden of travel and saving significant time and expenses.
2. Cost Savings: The system has led to an impressive saving of Rs. 700 per individual, resulting in a total savings of Rs. 14.22 crore in office expenses, time, workforce, and commuting costs for landholders.
3. Modern Technology Integration: The certificates issued are equipped with QR codes and are real-time generated, ensuring authenticity and easy verification.
4. Environmental Impact: The shift to paperless operations has contributed positively to environmental conservation by reducing paper usage.
5. Service Delivery: The project ensures compliance with the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, effectively providing immediate, free services to landholders through this online system.

To date, over 2,03,266 landholders have visited the BESIC system, and 1,12,554 have successfully downloaded their certificates. This shift to an efficient, online method marks a progressive move in public service delivery, benefiting thousands of farmers and contributing to environmental sustainability.

"Jigaon Major Project" is the irrigation project in the state of Maharashtra that effectively implements the "Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, 2015" and successfully provides immediate free services to the landholders through an online system for the first time.