Chief minister Devendra pushes development works, government schemes in Gadchiroli

NAGPUR: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a push to various development projects and government schemes in the Naxalite affected Gadchiroli district following a review meeting at Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday.

Medium irrigation project Dina near Chamorshi, Prime minister's housing schemes, rehabilitation of project-affected-people (PAP), digging 11,000 agricultural wells, creation of employments opportunities, Internet connectivity to gram panchayats, loan waiver, enhancing tele-communication, equipping libraries with books, electrification and expediting the work of Wadsa-Gadchiroli rail line were discussed in the meeting.

Gadchiroli MP Ashok Nete, Guardian minister Raje Ambrishrao Atram, chief secretary (CS) Sumit Mallik, additional CS Pravin Pardeshi, Guardian secretary Vikas Kharge, MLAs Dr Devrao Holi and Krushna Gajbe among others. Officials from Chandrapur district were also present also attended the meeting.

Fadnavis suggested formation of a task-force under Kharge for co-ordination among different departments to complete 16 pending lift irrigation projects by powering them with solar power. He also asked Kharge to co-ordinate with forest department for acquiring land upto one hectare for installing solar feeder projects needed for irrigation purposes.

MLA Holi demanded the Dina dam to be accorded the status of major project for which added budgetary allocations were required. He also stressed on appointment of a full-time executive enginner for overseeing the progress and maintenance of irrigation and water resources projects in the district. A budgetary allocation of Rs 4.92 crore was made for district collector ASR NAik for rehabilitating people displaced by Kosri project.

Fadnavis also directed the officials to deploy retired deputy executive engineers on contract basis for completing the pending road works under Prime minister village road projects. CM also ensured additional Rs 6 crore were sanctioned for hiring the expert manpower on contract so as to complete the works on time.

He asked the senior officials to ensure local contractors were awarded civil works of various government schemes through which 24,569 beneficiaries would be served by 2019. The CM expressed his intention to ensure 250 contractors are benefited from Gadchiroli. He alloted a time frame of one month for empanelling the contractors.

Gadchiroli collector Naik informed the CM that more than Rs 57 crore had been deposited in the accounts of various farmers under the loan-waiver scheme.

The CM urged the district administration to provide broadband connectivity to 210 gram panchayats and include all revenue divisions and health centres within the scheme of 'Connecting Gadchiroli' through District planning committee funds.