Mah govt cancels 801 Zunka Bhakar centres

Mumbai, May 16 (UNI) The Maharashtra government today cancelled the 801 Zunka Bhakar centres all over the state, a scheme initiated by the erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP government, and decided to return their sites to original owners, using the same space for people's welfare.

A decision to this effect was taken at the state cabinet meeting here.

In all, there were 6311 Zunka Bhakar centres out of which only 801 were functioning, an official release said here today.

The erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP government had come out with the scheme of offering 'Zunka bhakar' at Re one in 1995.

In a relief to debt ridden farmers, the government took a decision to give a concession of two per cent in the interest on the loans, ranging above Rs 25,000 to Rs three lakh. The scheme will be applicable to the banks in the co-operative sector.

The cabinet also decided to extend the central government's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Rehabilitation scheme in 233 cities.

The scheme gets 80 per cent grant from the Centre and nine per cent from the State government.

Nearly 23,000 flats will also be constructed under this scheme in Mumbai, while in rest of the state, government would take up the job of constructing over one lakh houses.

The cabinet also approved creation of 11,021 posts for the police department.

UNI