ZP, PS chiefs get 4-month extension in tenure, mayors likely next

Nagpur: The state cabinet on Wednesday approved extension of four months to the tenure of presidents and vice presidents of zilla parishads (ZP), and chairpersons and vice chairpersons of panchayat samitis (PS). The state cited administrative need of preparations for assembly elections for the extension, which is likely to be made applicable to mayors too in the next cabinet meeting.
The decision will benefit existing office bearers of ZP and PS in eight of total 11 districts in Vidarbha. The elections to ZP and PS of three districts — Nagpur, Washim and Akola — are pending for the last two-and-a-half years.
The two-and-a-half-year tenure of office bearers of ZP and PS was supposed to end on August 22. The government was supposed to hold draw of lot to finalize caste roster of next office bearers. But the government decided to extend the term of the incumbents.
“Staff at collector offices and police department will be busy with preparations for assembly elections. Therefore, extension has been given to the office bearers of ZP and PS,” the cabinet note said.
Thus, the tenure of the next office bearers will be reduced.
The tenure of mayors is also coming to an end on September 5. A similar decision is expected for mayors in the next cabinet meeting. It is likely that caste roster process for next office bearers will be held in December after the elections. The same happened in 2009.
Sources told TOI the extension has been given to avoid conflicts within political parties before going for assembly elections. “Parties have to select candidates for the next term of office bearers, which is always controversial.”
Mayors of Nagpur (Nanda Jichkar) and Chandrapur (Anjali Ghotekar) had sought extension of six months. The extension to Jichkar will mean a lot for her. Coming from Kunbi community and a woman, Jichkar is one of the contenders for BJP seat from West Nagpur. She had also requested her party to consider giving one of the six assembly seats to a woman.
Rs3.8k cr loan for 16 Vid irrigation projects
The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to raise long term loan of Rs15,000 crore for completing 52 irrigation projects proposed and under construction across the state. 16 irrigation projects in Vidarbha will get Rs3,847.59 crore from this loan.
As per the cabinet note, the 52 projects will be completed within three years with the help of the loan. These projects will create irrigation potential of 2.90 lakh hectare and water storage capacity of 891 million meter cube (MMC).
From the 16 irrigation projects in Vidarbha, 75,630 hectare agriculture land will be irrigated and 189.35 MMC storage capacity will be built. The projects include Wardha, Dindora, Rajegaonkoti, Lalnala, Chinchghat, Surewada, Kotgal, Takli Dolari, Pandhari, Garga, Bordinala, Kunha Wadoda.
Other Decisions
* Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion 4 and 5 will come up at Korti Mokta in Ballarpur tehsil of Chandrapur district, and Shisa Udegaon-Hingna villages in Akola district, respectively. At present, state has three battalions, with one of them at Nagpur. Also, a new SRPF battalion will be developed in Jalgaon district. Staff of 1,380 and Rs220 crore were approved for the four battalions
* 3.20 hectare land was approved for setting up Kendriya Vidyalaya at Navegaon village in Gadchiroli district