4 days ago
Maharashtra CM Fadnavis meets Amit Shah, Union ministers; effort to fast-track mega projects in Maharashtra
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Health Minister J P Nadda among others in New Delhi. Later the state government said the meetings were aimed at securing Centre's approval and assistance for development-oriented projects in Maharashtra.
An official statement issued by the CMO described the meetings as a courtesy call. 'The CM had a meeting with Amit Shah at his office in Parliament House in Delhi where issues and projects related to development were discussed in detail,' the statement said.
The Centre's three-language policy under NEP came under criticism forcing the CM to announce its revocation in the state on June 29. The state government also announced the constitution of an expert committee headed by Dr Narendra Jadhav to look into the issue afresh.
According to the CMO: 'Fadnavis, during his meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman, raised mega projects in Maharashtra which are being undertaken with the help of World Bank for which Centre's permission was necessary.'
Fadnavis said: 'We had an extensive discussion on externally aided projects in Maharashtra. The Finance Minister appreciated the fiscally prudent management of Maharashtra's finances and directed the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) to approve the multi-year pipeline for the following projects.'
The three projects where financial assistance was sought include a) Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana: $1 billion from Asian Development Bank to connect villages with 1000+ population with core road network of the state, thereby strengthening last-mile connectivity b) Maharashtra-Strengthening Coastal Resilience and the Economy Project (M-SHORE): $500 million from World Bank to mitigate sea-level rise along the coastline using nature-based solutions, and c) Maharashtra Urban WSS & Reuse Programme: $500 million from World Bank to treat 100% of municipal wastewater and reuse it for industrial purposes.
At a meeting with J P Nadda, the CM mooted a big fertilizer project in Vidarbha region. In Nagpur district, GAIL, the fertiliser department and the Maharashtra government are jointly planning to set up a 12.7 lakh tonne project worth Rs 10,000 crore. For this, the state has sought subsidy from the Centre. Nadda asked department officers to prepare a proposal for cabinet approval. Fertilizer department secretary Rajatkumar Mishra was present at the meeting.
The state government has presented a proposal to Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for rural network connectivity stretching 14,000km roads. The project, estimated at Rs 22,490 crore, will be undertaken with assistance from ADB. This project will be taken up on 25 years maintenance-free model.
'This will be a very important project for rural Maharashtra and farmers as it will enhance rural connectivity, ' Chauhan said. Fadnavis urged Chauhan to give support to expedite the project. Chauhan also lauded the state government for getting maximum 30 lakh houses under Centre's chief minister also held a meeting with Niti Aayog CEO B V R Subramaniam and member Rajiv Gaoba.
Multiple projects like the use of artificial intelligence for NCD (non-communicable disease), bamboo cluster (both these projects are of $500 million), Marathwada Water Grid, Damanganga-Godavari water link and other water conservation projects (worth $1 trillion) were discussed at the meet. Linking ITIs with private industrial sector to ensure employment and catering to market demands was also discussed at the meeting.
