“MahaYuti Government is committed to removal of development backlog in the backward areas of the State, as it is necessary to ensure balanced development in all regions. The key goal of the State Government is to uplift the economy of Vidarbha and Marathwada, but this would not mean that other regions in Maharashtra would be neglected. Unequal development remains the focus area for the new Government,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday. The Chief Minister was interacting with newspersons on the lawns of Vidhan Bhavan on the last day of Winter Session of State Legislature in city on Saturday. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was also present with other Ministers of Cabinet.

 

Chief Minister said that MahaYuti’s roadmap to transform Maharashtra is ready and in the next five years, river inter-linking, irrigation for farms and attractive new investment in State would be successfully implemented. Outlining the strategy, Fadnavis said, development of infrastructure is key to ensure that benefits reach the common man in the society. He added that, it has been decided to provide concrete approach roads to every village with a population of 1,000 persons and also, the Government will also promote bamboo cultivation on major scale so that farmers can earn extra money from the same. Mentioning about the Government business done in Winter Session, Fadnavis informed that about 19 bills were approved, and that too, after proper discussion.

 

On the burning issue of Urban Naxals, the Chief Minister, said that, as to action against these organisations will be decided at later stage. First, the State is keen on scrutiny of Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill to decide on framework of action against frontal organisation of Maoists. The Bill on Cluster University is quite novel and Fadnavis highlighted his role in convincing leading industrialists to set up Nayanta University in Pune. On the move to dissolve Nagpur Improvement Trust, the Chief Minister said, no decision had been taken as of now and any move to abolish the agency would be decided later. The State Government is firmly with farmers and already, Rs 165 crore had been allocated for orange cultivators and about 55,000 farmers stand to benefit from the decision. About cotton and pulses procurement, the Chief Minister said, though CCI’s purchase centres are open in market, the farmers are getting more than MSP. Since BEST is lifeline of Mumbai, State Government would firmly stand behind it and also tell Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to do so. Earlier, Dy CM Eknath Shinde said record supplementary grants of Rs 35,788 crore passed in Winter Session is testimony to MahaYuti’s commitment to continue with the flagship programmes, be it Baliraja or Ladki Bahin. The team is same but the match is new and Government working would get further fast-tracked in days to come. Shinde added that, one of the important business in the Session was election of the new Chairman of Legislative Council. He criticised the Opposition for its failure to raise issue of backward regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada as is the custom at Winter Session. Shinde also that the Government has cleared 170 irrigation projects, granting them revised administrative sanction, as they realise need for increase in irrigation potential. Cabinet Ministers Shambhu Raje Desai, Sanjay Rathod, Nitesh Rane and Adv Ashish Jaiswal were present.