Maharashtra to get new face with changes in rural-urban sector:CM

Mumbai, Apr 30 (UNI) The state government's efforts to control the farmers suicides, reduce the power shortage and implement programmes to make changes in Mumbai and other cities will change the face of rural and urban Maharashtra, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said today in his message on the eve of 46th Maharashtra anniversary.

The message will be aired on Doordarshan (sahyadri) channel at 0730 hrs and on Mumbai Akashwani's Asmita channel at 0910 hrs tomorrow.

Mr Deshmukh said the state faced various problems since last one year including incessant rainfall and floods in Mumbai and 18 districts on and after July 26 apart from hail storm and bird flu.

He said the farmers would be given a loan of Rs three lakh at six per cent interest and two per cent concession would be given if the loan was repaid in the scheduled time.

He said 740 MW power would be available from May-June from Ratnagiri Gas and Power Project and in next five years Maharashtra would be self reliant in power sector.

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been invited for inauguration of Mumbai's metro railway project. He also said the first phase of cleaning of Mithi river would be completed by May 31.

'' Mumbai is progressing to becoming a retailing, entertainment hub while Pune as bio technology hub. On the other hand Nagpur is going to become a main centre in cargo transport with the cargo hub project,'' the message said.

The Chief minister also said that the government has made all efforts to control epidemics like malaria and leptospyrosis apart from bird flu.

UNI JM ADG PA KP2020