Maha govt, ASI to develop Raigad fort together

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday met Nripendra Misra, principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi.

Mr Fadnavis met Mr Misra for grant of Central permissions for various projects, including those with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) such as renovation of the Raigad fort built by Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in the 16th century. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambhajiraje Bhosale and secretaries of several departments were present at the meeting.

That the state public works department will carry out development work at the Raigad fort has been decided with ASI officials. Renovation and development of the fort has been undertaken by the PWD in collaboration with the ASI. With the state government having sanctioned '606 crore for the project, work will now be expedited. The project entails conservation and restoration of monuments for the purpose of promoting tourism. Mr Fadnavis has informed that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the ASI and the state government will be signed this week.

Mr Fadnavis’ meeting with Mr Misra was also to seek financial assistance for 100 irrigation projects in Maharashtra. The Union cabinet is to soon approve the decision to provide financial assistance for completion of over 100 pending irrigation projects in distressed districts under the Baliraja Chetna Abhiyan. Currently, the state government spends on these projects from its own funds.

In another decision, the Union government will push for the President's assent for the bill regarding slums that have come up before 2011. The Maharashtra government has decided to make such slums eligible for redevelopment. The Maharashtra Slum Areas Bill 2017 was passed in the legislature, aiming to accelerate the process of redevelopment and housing for the poor. Mr Fadnavis also requested that the condition of 51 per cent government participation in construction of affordable houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in the coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) area be withdrawn.

The Maharashtra government claimed that the Union government has approved it in principle. Mr Fadnavis also requested that other agencies’ non-transfer clause be deleted so that Zudpi land can be transferred for various public utility projects.

This will pave the way for availability of 54,000 hectare land for public utility projects. This is an issue pertaining mainly to the Vidarbha region of the state.