Nagpur.
Taking the wind out of Shiv Sena’s sails, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday asserted that no force on the earth can separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. “My suggestion of a committee for Mumbai headed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meant for the fast track development of the city. It should be looked at that way only. Mumbai is inseparable part of Maharashtra and no power on this earth can separate the mega city from the State,” declared Fadnavis in the Assembly during a marathon debate on the Motion of Thanks on Governor C Vidyasagar Rao’s joint address to both the Houses of State Legislature.
On the high power committee for Mumbai, Fadnavis said, “There are a number of infrastructure projects pending with the Central Government and they need sympathetic consideration and clearance. “The projects include those from Railways, Housing and infrastructure. If the Prime Minister is the Chairman of the Committee, these pending projects can see the light of the day.”
A few days back Fadnavis had said, “Mumbai is the commercial capital of India, unless Mumbai is developed, there is no scope for the development of the country. For Mumbai’s development, there is an urgent need of effective coordination between State and Central agencies. Under such circumstances, it will be appropriate to set up a Mumbai development committee headed by the PM.” Reiterating that his government was committed to abolish the Local Body Tax (LBT), he said they would not wait to scrap the LBT till the introduction of GST.
The Chief Minister also said the Government will take up a housing scheme for policemen and sanitation workers of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Powers vested with the Secretariat-level officers in Mumbai will be decentralized, he added.
The Chief Minister further said that a total of 29575 hectares of farm land was affected by the recent hailstorms in some parts of State. In the next four years, the State will have additional stock of sugar. The Government is taking a slew of measures to put MIHAN project on fast track. Electricity is being supplied with reduced rates. The lands of MIHAN and Defence would be interchanged with the intervention of Central Government. This will facilitate speedy completion of the project.
A grand memorial of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar will be erected at Indu Mill place and the preparations for Chhatrapati Shiovaji Maharaj’s Memorial in Arabian Sea are going on. The bhoomipujan will be performed on February 19, 2015, said Fadnavis.
The State Government has eased formalities for setting up industries in State because of which bhoomipujan for Mercedes car project in Pune and Ceat Tyre project in Butibori was held within 15 days.
Nagpur Metro Project has received Centre’s final approval. A Railway officer has been appointed on deputation. Further, Maharashtra Government has formulated a ‘Smart City’ policy and a School of Planning and Architecture of international standard will be set up in State, said the Chief Minister and added a land in Aurangabad will be made available for this institute.
Digital India policy will be formulated in March 2015 with a new style. A policy for IT hub in Pune will also be prepared. For sand ghat auctioning, e-tendering system will be adopted and purchasing of over Rs 3 lakh will be done by e-tendering, said the Chief Minister Fadnavis.
