Independent Authority for the Development of Shirdi.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
05:47:08 PM,
Team ummid

Nashik: Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan during the specially convened meeting on July 22 in Nashik, the pilgrimage city near Mumbai, admitted North Maharashtra region had been neglected by the successive state governments.

“Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon and Ahmadnagar are the districts that were often neglected when it came to all-round development of the State”, a local English daily quoted the Chief Minister as saying.

In a specially convened cabinet meeting (the second in the history of post-Independent India after the first such meeting that was held on September 12, 1995) which was held on July 22 in Nashik, at the Nashik Rest House a comprehensive package of Rs. 6509.80 crore rupees for the development of the entire North Maharashtra region that comprises Nashik, Dhule, Nandurbar, Ahmednagar and Jalgaon districts was announced.

Among the various development works decided at the meeting included river-linking-project for Nashik division, nursing college at Malegaon, drama theatres in five districts, women hospital at Nashik, night landing facility at Dhule
and
An Independent Authority for the Development of Shirdi including the Construction of an Airport at the pilgrimage place
where millions from all across the country visit every year.

“The package for various developmental projects in these districts will be implemented in three years", Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had said after the meeting.

Interestingly, though the Chief Minister admitted that the region had been neglected by successive state governments while announcing the package for the region, the major share announced after the July 22 meeting is again going to a single city Nashik. And of the 6509.80 crore rupees announced for the entire North Maharashtra, most of the funds are meant for enhancing the height of Gangapur Dam and renovation of Kikwi Dam in Nashik, setting up an independent authority on lines of MMRDA for Nashik, slashing of Vale Added Tax (VAT) on wines in a bid to encourage the wine industry and to felicitate wine cluster in Nashik, crores of rupees for enhancing tourism, river-linking, police commissionerate, passenger terminal at Ojhar airport and various other decisions with regard to the development of Nashik Revenue Commissionerate area.


Sairam,
rOhit beHaL