Development plans for 28 towns in Vidarbha okayed

NAGPUR, March 4: The state government has approved the proposal for preparing development plans for 28 out of 30 medium and small towns i...

NAGPUR, March 4: The state government has approved the proposal for preparing development plans for 28 out of 30 medium and small towns in eastern Vidarbha.

An elaborate plan has been also made for conducting surveys and preparing plans for these towns and submitting them for government approval. Funds are also being released for the planned development of these towns under an under-development’ scheme. In the current financial year, the government made a provision for Rs 90 lakh and has so far released Rs 52.51 lakh. In addition, another Rs 18.51 lakh will be available under the Integrated Development Scheme.

Liberal assistance has been assured under another scheme for developing civic wards comprising more than 50 per cent Dalits. Funds are allocated for the construction of roads, sewerage lines, parks and gardens, libraries and community halls in these areas.

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Under the scheme introduced in 1995-96, the State Government released Rs 2.25 crore, Rs 1.24 crore and Rs 2.36 crore for Nagpur district in the last three years. The highest-ever allocation of Rs 7 crore has been assured this year for Nagpur district.

Nagpur district is followed by Bhandara (Rs 2 crore), Chandrapur (Rs 1.50 crore), Wardha (Rs 60 lakh) and Gadchiroli (Rs 20 lakh).

Altogether 15 medium and small towns in eastern Vidarbha region have benefitted from the centrally-sponsored Integrated Development Scheme. The towns are Kamptee, Hinganghat, Bhandara and Katol (Sixth Plan), Ramtek, Wardha, Chandrapur, Narkhed, Gadchiroli, Gondia and Savner (Seventh Plan) and Warora, Tumsar, Pulgaon and Umrer (Eighth Plan).

Central funds totalling Rs 2.44 crore have been assured to Pulgaon, Rs 2.36 crore for Tumsar, Rs 2.02 crore for Umrer and Rs 2 crore Warora, while the State Government has assured Rs 72 lakh to every Integrated Development Scheme in these towns.

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Of the 30 towns in the region, Chandrapur, Gondia and Wardha have been included in the A’ class category, while Kamptee, Umrer, Bhandara, Ballarpur, Arvi and Hinganghat in B’ class, Ramtek, Kalmeshwar, Katol, Narkhed, Mowad, Mohpa, Savner, Khapa, Tumsar, Pavni, Tiroda, Warora, rajura Mul. Brahmapuri, Bhadrawati, Deoli, Pulgaon, sindi, Gadchiroli and Desaiganj have been listed as C’ class municipal councils.