Other major announcements include Rs 853 cr for Gosikhurd irrigation project, Heritage Walk in NagpurTiger Safari in 171 hectare forest area around Chandrapur, wildlife rescue centre to be set up in Chandrapur district Monthly commando allowance for C-60 squad in Naxal-affected area to be doubled

Several important announcements and provisions have been made for Vidarbha region in the State Budget for the year 2022-23, presented in the Legislative Assembly by Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance and Planning Minister. An important announcement is extension of Samruddhi Mahamarg up to Gadchiroli.

Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Highway, popularly referred to as Samruddhi Mahamarg, will be extended from Nagpur to Bhandara-Gondia and Nagpur to Gadchiroli. The said expressway at present connects Nagpur with Mumbai. As per the announcement made in the Legislative Assembly, 77 per cent of the work of this ambitious project has been completed. It was a long-pending demand to connect districts to the east of Nagpur so that the expressway connectivity with Mumbai would benefit them.

One more major announcement is provision of Rs 853.45 crore in 2022-23 for Gosikhurd national irrigation project in Bhandara district. Gosikhurd project has 40.45 TMC (100 per cent) water storage and 1,34,431 hectare (53 per cent) irrigation capacity. Rs 14,251 crore has been spent on the project till the end of December 2021 and all the works of the project are expected to be completed by December 2023. Further, a water tourism project is proposed to be taken up at Gosikhurd project.

Under a special programme, as many as 24,614 irrigation wells are being constructed in six districts of Nagpur division. The works of 43,902 irrigation wells have been undertaken from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

In accordance with the State Government’s decision to increase admission capacity for post-graduate education, it has been decided to establish Post-Graduate Institute at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Super Specialty Institute, Nagpur. Modern physiotherapy techniques will be included in the post-graduate course. Further, the Government has granted Rs 10 crore for renovation of building to Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, Nagpur. There is more in the budget regarding Nagpur.

To introduce the work of freedom fighters, revolutionaries, and social reformers of Maharashtra to younger generation, a ‘Heritage Walk’ will be organised in Nagpur, along with Mumbai and Pune. Already, several ‘Heritage Walk’ events have been held in Nagpur city and district during this year. Further, an amount of Rs 1 crore will be provided for schools in villages associated with eminent personalities in the State to mark 75th anniversary of India’s Independence. Under this initiative, two places in Amravati district of Vidarbha have been included. These are Mozari, the birthplace of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj in Teosa tehsil; and Shedgaon, the birthplace of Sant Gadge Baba in Anjangaon Surji tehsil. The Government has decided to take up the works of new terminal, night landing facility, and extension of runway at Amravati airport.

The budget has some provisions for Chandrapur district too. One provision is of Rs 25 crore for development plan for Vitthal Rukmini Temple area in Wadha. Further, it has been decided to start Tiger Safari in 171 hectare forest area adjacent to Chandrapur. In addition, a wildlife rescue center will be set up in Chandrapur district to facilitate immediate treatment of wild animals from Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts.

An important provision is doubling of the monthly commando allowance for Special Operations Squad (C-60) police officers/personnel working in Naxal-affected areas. The monthly allowance will be increased from Rs 4,000/- to Rs 8,000/- per month. Recently when Sanjay Pandey, the then Director General of Police, had visited Gadchiroli, the demand for increasing the allowance had come up in his discussion with the officers there. Now, the increase will be in effect from 2022-23.

Another important announcement for cops in Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district is the establishment of Special Hospital for Police personnel on the lines of Army Hospital to make it possible to perform all types of treatments and surgeries in the district. One more announcement may have long-term positive impact on the State’s fight against Naxals. The Finance Minister announced in his budget speech that the State was mulling over a proposal to set up new airport at Gadchiroli.

Other announcements for Gadchiroli district include Skill Upgradation Centre to be set up with the help of private participation to impart skill development training to 5,000 students every year.

The Government will provide Rs 30 crore for this purpose. The remaining funds will be raised through Corporate Social Responsibility Fund.

Also, land has been identified for construction of Multi-Purpose Complex for Madia Gond community at Ziganur in Sironcha tehsil of Gadchiroli district. Interestingly,

Gadchiroli model will be implemented in 26 districts of the State to provide fortified rice under the National Food Security Scheme, to address nutrient deficiencies.

 

One Innovation Hub to be set up to create skilled human resource in every revenue division.

Women and Neonatal Hospitals to be established in all districts. Accordingly, 100-beded women hospitals to be set up at Yavatmal, Buldhana, Wardha, Bhandara. Construction and upgrading of Women’s Hospital at Akola is being undertaken.

577 MW capacity solar power projects to be set up at Mauje Kodgaon and Mauje Shindala (Latur district), Mauje Sakri (Dhule), Washim, Mauje Kachrala (Chandrapur), and Yavatmal.

In the Aspirational District of Gadchiroli, irrigation facilities to be revived.

Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded, Wadsa-Desaiganj-Gadchiroli, Nagpur-Nagbhid railway line works are in various stages.

The capacity of Common Facility Centre for goat rearing at Pohra in Amravati district to be upgraded and enhanced.

Rs 100 crore for capital expenditure and Rs 18 crore for recurring expenditure will be made available for setting up 50-bedded Level-1 Trauma Care Units at Amravati, Bhandara, Nanded, Jalna, Ahmednagar and Satara.

Lithotripsy to remove kidney stones without surgery, to be made available to poor patients in rural areas in 200-bedded Government hospitals.

Phacoemulsification treatment method for cataract surgery to be made available in 60 Government hospitals across the State.

Mechanical laundry to be provided to hospitals having more than 50 beds. Cleaning machine to be provided to hospitals having more than 30 beds.