Maharashtra Govt. approves Rs 1153 cr package for Marathwada

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Sep 19: The Maharashtra government today announced a Rs 1,153 crore package for integrated development of the backward Marathwada region.

Announcing various decisions taken by the Cabinet, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said while the State government will contribute Rs 894 crore, the remaining Rs 259 crore would be invested through build-operate-transfer (BOT) system. His deputy R R Patil and district guradian ministert Dr Patangrao Kadam were also present.

Of the State's share, Rs 343 crore would be spent on development works of various departments and Rs 211 crore on widening of roads, Mr Deshmukh elaborated.

Expressing satisfaction over the utilisation of fund in last years's package to Marathwada, the Chief Minister said of the Rs 1,269 crore package announced in the last fiscal year, 84.26 per cent of development works has already been carried out by the government.

The Cabinet, however, did not take up demands of the flood-hit people of the region, despite agitations by the opposition BJP and Shiv Sena, highlighting their plight.

The farmers as well as other flood-affected people of the region, Mr Deshmukh said, had been given emergency assistance by the government, adding they would also be provided relief as per norms fixed for compensation during such calamities.

The Cabinet laid emphasis on development of irrigation, infrastructure, education, especially medical and technical and tourism. Rs 384.76 crore were granted for civic bodies in the Marathwada region and Rs 22.93 crore were also provided for the development of small and medium irrigation projects.

A provision of Rs 25.50 crore has been made for the technical education and Rs 15 crore for the setting up of divisional and district level sports complexes in the region.

The Cabinet also approved a package of Rs 16 crore for development of piligrimage centres in the region , which works out to Rs 2 crore for each district of the central Maharashtra.

Mr Deshmukh decalred 1,456 villages as scarcity-affected in four districts of Latur, Osmanabad, Parbhani and Beed as per findings of a preliminary survey done by authorities, making them eligible for government assistance as per the laid-down norms. But the Chief Minister made it clear that the decision might be reviewed after the receipt of final survey report.

UNI