Will approve Rs 190 cr revised plan of Deekshabhoomi in 15 days: Fadnavis

Staff Reporter

“For the last two-and-a-half years, the plan of development of Deekshabhoomi worth Rs 100 crore was pending. Now, we have revised the plan and increased its budget to Rs 190 crore which will be approved in next 15 days,” assured Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He was addressing the devotees at the 66th Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din function at Deekshabhoomi.

Lakhs of devotees had come from various corners of the country to pay respects to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Bhagwan Gautam Buddha at Deekshabhoomi on Wednesday. The programme was being held after a gap of two years. Over 30 lakh devotees came to Nagpur and stayed put without getting deterred by heavy rain.

Deekshabhoomi is the place where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism 66 years ago.

Programme was organised by Param Pujya Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti and District Administration.

Union Minister of Road Transport Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale, District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar, Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar, Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B, Nagpur Improvement Trust Chairman Dr Manojkumar Suryavanshi, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University Vice-Chancellor Dr Subhash Chaudhari, Social Welfare Commissioner Prashant Narnavre, BARTI Director Dhammajyoti Gajbhiye, Smarak Samiti Secretary Dr Sudhir Fulzele, Member Adv M M Yeole, Adv Anand Fulzele, N R Sute, Dr Rajendra Gavai, D G Dabhade, Vilas Gajghate, Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram, Dr Pradip Aglave, Bhante Nag Dipankar, Dr Milind Mane, Regional Deputy Commissioner of Social Welfare Department Sidharth Gaikwad wife of Ramdas Athawale Seematai and others were seated on the dais.

Informing the audience that State Government led by him had approved the Deekshabhoomi Development plan worth Rs 100 crore. Out of that amount, Rs 40 crore was handed over to Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) while State Government was prepared to give remaining amount. Unfortunately in last two years the Government did not release that amount for the reasons best known to it. Now our Government will give it the required momentum with an addition of Rs 90 crore,” promised Fadnavis.

Devendra Fadnavis has shared all the information regarding the development of Deekshabhoomi he has witnessed since he was Mayor. Fadnavis said, “The proposal of providing A grade religious place’s status to Deekshabhoomi is pending with Central Government. I along with Athawale and Gadkari will pursue it with Central Government to get it done.”

“It was the effort of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the issue of land of Indu Mills worth Rs 2,400 crore got resolved. In 2024 a grand memorial of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar will be developed at Indu Mills premises, to be visible to everyone going by sea link road,” Fadnavis disclosed.

“The religion embraced by Dr Babasaheb is very effective and it has lakhs of followers in South Asia. This religion thinks about freedom, equality and fraternity. Dr Babasaheb has given importance to social, financial and educational change because of which his work is compared with that of Martin Luther King, late senior Socialist,” commented Nitin Gadkari.

Ramdas Athawale, Kamaltai Gavai and others spoke on the occasion. Vilas Gajghate proposed a vote of thanks.

Dragon Palace Temple, Kamptee

“From various corners of country lakhs of people visit Dragon Palace Temple during Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din. We are committed to develop this place as tourist place,” promised Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He was speaking during Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din programme held at Dragon Palace Temple, Kamptee.

Fadnavis said, “Our Government had sanctioned Rs 214 crore. During Mahavikas Aaghadi Government no funds were made available to Dragon Palace Temple. Now our Government will provide momentum to the project.”

Dragon Palace Temple Head, President of Ogava Society and ex-Minister Adv Sulekha Kumbhare presided over the function. Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale, RPI General Secretary Dr Rajendra Gavai, Bharatiya Janata Party State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Kamptee MLA Tekchand Savarkar, Member of National Minority Commission Rinchen Lamo and Bhanteji of Thailand were present.

Those worked hard to make the event successful include Ajay Kadam, Udas Bansod, Ashfaq Quereshi, Dipankar Ganvir, Subhash Somkuwar, Anubhav Patil, Rajesh Shambharkar, Chandu Kapse and others.

NMC makes all arrangements at Deekshabhoomi

Considering huge turnout of devotees at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur Municipal Corporation had made all facilities available for the people coming from outside. The raining in the function did not affect as Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B had created alternate arrangement for them to stay. When raining began NMC staff made announcements from the control room and instructed devotees to shift to various offices, institutes including Health Deputy Director office, Industrial Training Institute, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar College, Social Welfare Office, Government Chitrakala Mahavidyalaya and others. Nodal Officer of NMC and Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Milind Meshram led the team that took all care of people in a proper manner.

Sankalp provides food

Sankalp the organisation working under the guidance of former Minister Dr Nitin Raut provided food to 3 lakh devotees who had come at Deekshabhoomi.

The activity was inaugurated at the hands of Maharashtra Pradesh Yuvak Congress President Kunal Raut. Anil Nagrare, Ashok Humne, Raja Karwade, Vinod Shende, Vinay Sahare, Shashikant Raipure

and others of Sankalp were present.

BSP

Dr Ashok Sidharth, State incharge of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had been to Deekshabhoomi. He also inaugurated BSP contact office near Metro Rail office. Dr Sidharth, National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha Member was accompanied by Youth Leader Nitin Singh, Maharashtra Pradesh BSP Youth Wing President Adv Sandip Tajne, Adv Sunil Dongre.

BSP Media incharge Uttam Sheode, State Secretary Ranjana Dhore, Vijaykumar Dahat, Prithviraj Shende, Sushil Wasnik, Avinash Wankhede, Nitin Shingade and others were present.