State Budget: Rs 211 cr for Phase-II of Ramtek devpt
| Date :29-Jun-2024 |
Staff Reporter
In the last budget of the incumbent Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra, among a host of announcements with applicability across the State, there are some major announcements relating to Vidarbha region. Apart from agriculture and related sectors, an amount of Rs 211 crore has been allocated in the State Budget for Ramtek development in Nagpur district. The budget speech of Ajit Pawar, Finance Minister, mentioned the ambitious Wainganga-Nalganga inter-linking project. Irrigation benefits will be provided to 3,71,277 hectares in Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Yavatmal, Akola and Buldhana districts of Vidarbha by diverting 62.57 TMC water from Gosikhurd national irrigation project through the inter-linking project. Monthly cash amount is paid in lieu of foodgrains to the farmers holding orange-coloured ration card in 14 disaster-affected districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. An amount of Rs 113.36 crore has been paid to 11.85 lakh beneficiaries till the end of May 2024, Pawar said in his budget speech. Further, in the first phase of Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Prakalp, various projects in 16 districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions costing Rs 5,469 crore have been completed successfully. The second phase of this project costing Rs 6,000 crore will be implemented in 21 districts.
There are various schemes that are applicable to various parts of Maharashtra and Vidarbha region also will
benefit from them. But, as far as specific provisions are concerned, it has been approved to set up Centre of Excellence in technical education institutions located in Nagpur, Amravati, Yavatmal districts of Vidarbha apart from in Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Karad in Satara district, and Avasari Khurd in Pune district. Ramtek in Nagpur district is a revered pilgrimage site. Shri Ram Mandir, popularly known as Gadh Mandir, is visited by countless devotees throughout the year. In the Phase-I of the development plan, works worth Rs 150 crore were approved and the works are in progress. In Phase-II, works worth Rs 211 crore will be undertaken, it was announced in the State Budget on Friday. Also, a development plan of Rs 77 crore will be prepared for memorial of spiritual guru and social reformer Baba Jumdevji at Pawaddauna in Mouda tehsil of Nagpur district. Nagpur, Bhandara and nearby areas have a large number of Baba Jumdevji’s followers.
The ‘e-panchnama’ system for quick and transparent assessment of crop loss due to natural calamities has been tested successfully in Nagpur division. In the budget, it was announced that this system will be replicated across the State. It may be mentioned here that an amount of Rs 15,245.76 crore has been provided to the affected farmers since July 2022. Assistance amounting to Rs 2,253 crore was provided to 24.74 lakh farmers affected by unseasonal rains during November-December 2023. The ceiling of land-holding for grant of relief was increased from 2 hectares to 3 hectares. This assistance was provided at a rate higher than that in the State Disaster Response Fund norms. Drought was declared in 40 talukas, and drought-like situation in 1,021 revenue circles for Kharif-2023 season and various concessions have been provided in these areas.
In Amravati district, a memorial to Sant Ruplal Maharaj will be built at Anjangaon Surji. Considering ‘84 per 1 lakh population’ availability of doctors in the State, the Government plans to increase this ratio to more than 100 per 1 lakh population by the year 2035. Hence, it has planned to increase the admission capacity of medical colleges. In this regard, approval has been given to establishment of new Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) with intake capacity of 100 students with 430-bedded hospitals affiliated to them in six locations in Vidarbha. These six locations include Amravati, Buldhana, Washim, Wardha, Bhandara, and Gadchiroli. A provision of Rs 125 crore will be made available for construction and renovation of office buildings at Wardha and Amravati under the office of the Charity Commissioner. As per the State Budget announcement, a new Government Ayurvedic College will be established in Buldhana district.