Separate ministry to be established for OBCs: Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced that a separate ministry would be created for OBCs, which would be headed by an independent minister.

Addressing the concluding-session of Kunbi Mahotsav at Shahapur in the district, he also announced funds worth Rs 200 crore for gravity-based water supply projects to fulfil the need of the town and surrounding areas.

“A policy would be prepared by the government under which villages giving land for dam projects would be entitled to the water from that particular project,” the CM said.

Mr Fadnavis also directed Thane Zilla Parishad to prepare a tourist circuit plan for Shahapur and Murbad talukas and assured maximum funds for development.

Meanwhile, in order to increase the green cover across the state, the government has come up with a target of planting 50 crore saplings in next three years.

A government resolution on Monday stated that the plantation drive would be boosted in next three years (July 2019), to increase the green cover.  “The state government, during the monsoon of 2017, has planned to plant four crore saplings, followed by 13 crore saplings, during the monsoon season of 2018,” mentions the resolution.

The government will plant 33 crore saplings during the rainy season of 2019, thus taking the total to 50 crore, it said.