Maharashtra to be a $6 trillion by 2047, to play a major role in Centre’s Viksit Bharat 2047 Mission, CM Eknath Shinde

SANJAY JOG

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in his speech at the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting asserted that Maharashtra has a huge role in the creation of a developed India -Viksit Bharat 2047 saying that the state government is committed to actively contribute in this mission. ‘’Maharashtra will become a $1 trillion economy by 2027, $2.5 trillion economy by 2037 and $6 trillion economy by 2047. The state government will make every effort to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of making Maharashtra the global economic powerhouse and Mumbai the global Fintech capital,’’he said.

Shinde said that the state government has crafted all policies and initiatives keeping in mind the poor, women, youth and farmers on the line of the Central government, adding that the government has announced many schemes for these sections in the annual budget.

Shinde said that Maharashtra is a major contributor to the nation's economy with its strong industrial and service-sector base. The state tops the among other states in attracting the maximum foreign direct investment and in the last two years Maharashtra has signed investment agreements worth Rs 5 lakh crore at the World Economic Forum which will generate 3 lakh jobs.?

‘’The state government is focusing on district-level strategies to create a balanced and inclusive economic development model. Taking inspiration from the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, the government has started the Namo Shetkari Maha Samman Nidhi Yojana wherein the financial aid of Rs 6,000 is being distributed to each farmer annually. Maharashtra is the only state to provide crop insurance for one rupee. Nearly 1.70 crore farmers have been paid Rs 7,292 crore under this scheme,’’ said Shinde.

He further said that the state government is resolved to double the income of farmers and for that it has prepared the Agriculture Food Export Policy. The government will set up onion banks for the storage of 10 lakh tonnes of onions based on nuclear energy. The Chief Minister has appealed to the Prime Minister to consider the price policy regarding purchase of onions for 'buffer stock' under Price Stabilization Fund Scheme.

In order to promote the export of agricultural produce, the government is providing various testing facilities under one umbrella. Further, the government has taken a decision to provide free power up to 7.5 horsepower to the agricultural pumps.

Shinde said that the state government has expanded the health insurance scheme titled the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana by including all citizens with an increase in the coverage to Rs 5 lakh. ‘’Maharashtra is the first state in the country to establish a Ministry of Disability for the all-round development of disabled people and also the first state to make a transgender policy,’’ he added.

Shinde said that the government has launched the skill training programme to make the youth between the ages of 18 and 35 years employable. Under the Mukhyamantri Karya Prashikshan Yojana, the government will provide apprenticeship to educated unemployed youth and give them a stipend of up to Rs 10,000.??‘’The government aims to create "capable youth" by 2047 and carry the message of "Able India". Therefore, to increase the performance of our country in specific sports of Olympics and other international competitions, 'Mission Lakshyavedh Yojana' has been started,’’ he noted.

Moreover, the government has announced a slew of schemes to make women self-reliant and financially empowered and a scheme has been proposed for free higher education for girls.?

Shinde said that the old and dilapidated buildings in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and other parts will be redeveloped through cluster development schemes. Nearly two lakh homes will be constructed through various agencies. The government has launched the redevelopment of Asia’s largest slum, the Dharavi which will help improve the standard of living of its residents. He further added that the government is developing a metro rail network of 390 km in the MMR with an investment of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore. Similar metro projects are underway in Pune and Nagpur.?

According to Shinde, the government is developing the Konkan Coastal Road and the Konkan Green Field Expressway which will prove to be game changers for that region.??The government will construct 5,000 km of access control grid to provide seamless connectivity.?

Shinde thanked the Centre for approving the Rs 76,000 crore Vadhavan greenfield port project in Palghar district saying that it will boost the state’s economic growth.

Shinde urges Centre to speed up Marathwada Water Grid Project for river linking?

In a serious bid to make the Marathwada region drought free, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday urged the Center to speed up the Marathwada Water Grid project for river linking in the state.?

‘’Konkan receives large amounts of rainwater. It is necessary to use it judiciously while irrigation also needs to be further increased in the Konkan region. A large quantity of water due to foods in Sangli and Kolhapur and and from the Konkan goes to the sea every year in the absence of river linking and irrigation projects. The government is trying to make it available by tapping that water by bringing water into the Godavari basin in the Marathwada region,’’ said the CM in his speech at the NITI Aayog’s Governing Council Meeting. He sought the Centre’s help to speed up river linking projects in the state.?

Shinde said that the state government will implement the RS 14,40 crore project to divert 22.9000 million cubic feet of water from west-flow rivers to Godavari basin. In addition, the government will implement a slew of river linking projects such as Damanganga-Pinjal, Konkan to Godavari basin, Konkan to Tapi basin, Wainganga-Nalganga, Tapi Mahakaya recharge schemes.

Shinde said that the Wainganga-Nalganga interlinking project will irrigate 3,71277 hectares of land from Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Yavatmal, Akola and Buldhana districts benefitting lakhs of citizens and farmers.?

Raised the issue of onion, cotton, soybeans

Shinde has urged the Centre to consider the price policy regarding procurement of onion for buffer stock under the Onion Price Stabilization Fund Scheme. The guaranteed price of soybeans and cotton should be increased. ‘’Since the beginning of the season, the farmers had to bear the loss as soybean prices were lower than the guaranteed price. The Centre needs to address this issue to provide relief to the farmers,’’ he said, adding that the state government has urged the Center to take urgent steps to prevent milk adulteration.

Use of Mumbai Port Trust land

Shinde sought the Centre’s help to make proper use of the six acres of Mumbai Port Trust land in Mumbai for the development of Marine Driver like chowpatty.

He also demanded that an early approval from the union cabinet for Thane metro project and shift the funnel radar zone for the redevelopment projects in Dahisar and Andheri to give a much needed relief to lakhs of residents.?

This apart, Shinde demanded to speed up the Pune Nashik Semi High Speed Railway Project and Karad Chiplun Railway Project.