Vidarbha can be a role model: Sudhir Mungantiwar

MUMBAI: Even as Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia and Bhandara districts in eastern Vidarbha region have a low human development index, they have the capacity and enough resources to be developed into a model region, Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said here.

Mungantiwar, while speaking during a Water, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and allied businesses program organised by the district administration of Chandrapur, said "Vidarbha region has water,forest, land and minerals to develop backward districts in the region and rise as a model for other regions."

Union Minister for State for Chemicals and fertilisers Hansraj Ahir was also part of the program.

Mungantiwar added that there are more than 6400 small lakes in eastern Vidarbha region.

"Reparation work will start at all these lakes soon and it will help in bringing more land under irrigation. These lakes can be further utilised for pisciculture. Water conservation is the need of the hour and participation of people to educate about it will lead to a change. 'Jalyukt Shivar' will be implemented in forest buffer zone as well," Mungantiwar said.

He further said that Rs 250 crore have been allocated for 'Jalyukt Shivar' scheme and mass awareness can help to bring in transparency.

He appealed to corporates to co-operate with the government through their CSR funds so that villages can be developed through the 'Van Dhan' scheme.