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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Maha govt plans crackdown on those blocking village access roads
Nagpur: Maharashtra is preparing a state-wide blueprint to strengthen farm and village access roads, with strict penalties under consideration for individuals obstructing such projects. Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday announced that the plan, being drafted by a high-powered committee, will be finalised and presented to the state cabinet by the end of September. The committee, comprising ministers, MLAs, and senior officials from the revenue, rural development, and employment guarantee departments, held its first meeting in Mumbai. "We will hold three rounds of discussions before delivering a concrete, actionable plan to the cabinet by September. The success of this initiative will depend greatly on the support and cooperation of MLAs," Bawankule said after the meeting. One of the strongest appeals came from MLA Abhimanyu Pawar, who urged punitive measures against individuals blocking road construction despite overwhelming community support. "If 90% of farmers agree to a road project, it should not be stalled by 10% opposition. The cost of construction should be recovered from such objectors, and if necessary, action taken under Section 353," Pawar said. Rural development minister Jaykumar Gore supported the call for incorporating such provisions into law. Funding emerged as a central concern during discussions. MLA Satyajit Deshmukh proposed creating a separate budget head for these projects and exploring resources from the Employment Guarantee Scheme and District Planning Committees. Officials suggested that a clear and sustained funding stream would be essential to ensure uninterrupted execution. Settlement commissioner for land records Suhas Diwase proposed that all rural access roads be formally documented in the 7/12 land records, with boundaries clearly defined and survey numbers assigned. He also suggested vesting ownership with the revenue department to prevent encroachment and streamline maintenance. To improve efficiency, MLA Hemant Patil recommended that project execution powers be shifted from gram panchayats to tehsildars, ensuring faster decision-making. He also called for a minimum road width of six metres and year-round usability standards. Employment guarantee minister Bharat Gogawale described the plan as "critical for empowering farmers and improving rural livelihoods," while minister of state for finance and planning Ashish Jaiswal suggested completing implementation within two years. MLAs Mahesh Shinde, Anil Patil, Randhir Savarkar, Sumit Wankhede and MLC Parinay Fuke also put forward key inputs aimed at strengthening the framework before it is presented to the cabinet next month.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Penal action suggested for obstructers of farm, village access roads
A comprehensive plan to strengthen farm and village access roads across the state will be prepared by September end, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Wednesday. At least three meetings of a study group comprising officials from the Revenue, Rural Development, and Employment Guarantee Scheme departments will take place to finalise the details. Bawankule said, 'The committee will conduct three meetings and present a final report to the cabinet by September end. The responsibility of making this plan successful lies significantly with the MLAs.' The committee members suggested imposing penalties on those obstructing construction of roads to ensure effective implementation. The first meeting of the committee, formed to devise a comprehensive plan to strengthen farm and village access roads, was held on Wednesday at Mantralaya under Bawankule's chairmanship. Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, Employment Guarantee and Horticulture Minister Bharat Gogawale, Minister of State for Finance and Planning Ashish Jaiswal, along with committee member MLAs and senior officials from various departments, were present at the meeting. Usually, despite 90% of farmers agreeing, roads are not constructed due to opposition from just 10% of individuals. MLA Abhimanyu Pawar demanded that penal action be taken against such obstructers, with the cost of road construction recovered from them and, if necessary, action under Section 353. Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore also emphasised the need for legal provisions to address those obstructing roads. Given that funding had been a major issue for this plan, MLA Satyajit Deshmukh suggested creating a separate budget head. Explore the possibility of securing funds through the Employment Guarantee Scheme and the District Planning Committee (DPDC) was also suggested. Settlement Commissioner of Land Records Suhas Diwase suggested documenting all roads in the 7/12 land records, define their boundaries, and assign survey numbers, as village access roads will be a boon for rural areas. It was also proposed that ownership of these roads should remain with the Revenue Department. It was also suggested that village access roads should be at least six metres wide and usable year-round. MLA Hemant Patil suggested that the authority for these works be given to tehsildars instead of gram panchayats to expedite progress. Employment Guarantee Scheme Minister Bharat Gogawale stated that this plan was crucial in empowering farmers, while Minister of State Ashish Jaiswal proposed the goal of completing the plan's implementation within two years.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Farmers advised to explore horticulture
Vijayawada: NTR district collector G Lakshmisha has assured the farming community that the district administration stands firmly behind them in all aspects of agricultural development. He said the welfare of farmers remains the government's foremost priority and extends all kinds of support and assistance. Participating in the 'Polam Pilustondi' initiative organised at Guntupalli village in Ibrahimpatnam mandal on Tuesday, Dr Lakshmisha planted paddy in the field of farmer G Ravindranath Tagore. Dr Lakshmisha highlighted that every village faces unique challenges. To address these, the district administration is organising 'Polam Pilustondi' programmes every Tuesday and Wednesday to engage directly with farmers, understand their problems, and implement timely solutions. He outlined the support being provided under this initiative, which includes assistance with supply of seeds, fertilisers, CCRC cards, and crop loans. He said fertilisers are being distributed through a biometric-based online system, and he reassured farmers that there is no shortage of fertilisers in the district. Encouraging diversification of crops, Dr Lakshmisha advised farmers to explore horticulture along with paddy cultivation. Through the Employment Guarantee Scheme, farmers can establish fruit and flower gardens free of cost and potentially earn two to three times more income. He shared that the district has set a target of cultivating horticulture crops in 4,000 acres this year, with 3,800 acres already under cultivation. Crops like drumsticks can also be grown along bunds for additional income. District Agriculture Officer DMF Vijayakumari, AD Srinivasa Rao, Tech AO Vasudev Nayak, Mandal Agriculture Officer Y Rajani, PACS President Ramakrishna, progressive local farmers, and officials from various departments attended the programme.
Indian Express
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra govt forms high-level committee to strengthen farm and village roads
The state government has set up a 23-member high-level committee to strengthen farm and village roads to tackle the challenges faced by farmers in transporting agricultural produce. Chaired by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the committee aims to resolve long-standing issues caused by inadequate rural road infrastructure. This initiative follows a commitment made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly on July 11. The committee, headed by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, comprises Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Jayakumar Gore, Maharashtra Minister for Employment Guarantee Scheme Bharatshet Gogawale, MoS Ashish Jaiswal, five members of the Legislative Assembly, seven special invitee members and seven senior officials. It is tasked with submitting a comprehensive report within one month to ensure time-bound reforms. According to Bawankule, 'The objective is to provide good and accessible rural infrastructure to make life better for farmers and agriculture sector.' The committee's aims and objectives are to focus on: 1) Reviewing the Matoshri Pandhan Road Scheme to address its shortcomings. Studying successful farm road schemes in Nagpur, Amravati and Latur districts. 3) Implementing recommendations from the committee chaired by the Commissioner of Land Records, Maharashtra. 4) Assessing the need for a dedicated accountant head for farm road schemes. 5) Evaluating funding convergence under existing schemes, including specific accounting heads and required financing. 6) Proposing measures to strengthen all farm and village roads within five years to ensure seamless transport of agricultural produce. 7) Recommending the appropriate department to implement the scheme. The committee is empowered to invite experts and retired officers as special invitees and to make additional recommendations beyond its defined scope, ensuring a comprehensive approach to rural road infrastructure development. With the increasing mechanization of agriculture, robust farm roads are essential for efficient sowing, harvesting, and transportation of produce to markets. Poor road conditions have long hindered farmers' productivity. This initiative aims to enhance rural connectivity, boost agricultural efficiency, and improve farmers' livelihoods.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Time of India
Cyber scam worth crores busted in Yavatmal; jobless youth duped via bank accounts
Yavatmal: A massive cyber fraud running into crores has surfaced in Pandharkawda taluka of Yavatmal district, where hundreds of unemployed rural youth were duped into handing over their bank account credentials under the pretext of getting jobs through the govt's Employment Guarantee Scheme (MREGS). Victims from villages like Chopan, Vasantnagar, Shivni, Wagholi, and Jarang were asked to open bank accounts and submit ATM cards, passwords, UPI IDs, and net banking access. These accounts were then used to route large-scale financial transactions across India—including from Gujarat, Delhi, Mumbai, and Andaman—raising suspicions of a nationwide cybercrime racket. The fraud came to light after former Pandharkawda municipal president Santosh Borale filed a complaint with Yavatmal SP, demanding a CBI probe. Several affected youths have also filed police complaints, naming local agents Mayur Chavan and Manohar Rathod as masterminds. Transactions ranging from Rs10 lakh to Rs1.15 crore were carried out through these accounts, exposing the account holders—many from daily wage families—to legal action. With their accounts frozen and tax notices expected, these unsuspecting youth now face criminal charges for crimes they claim they never committed. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Benefits of Trading Bitcoin CFDs IC Markets Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola Allegations have also surfaced against Bank of Maharashtra's Pandharkawda branch for failing to flag suspicious transactions. "This appears to be a large network, not a local incident. It must be investigated at a national level," Borale said. Authorities have launched a preliminary probe, but no arrests have been made yet.
