Tourism development plan for Saptashringi Garh to get sanction soon, says Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar. File Pic

Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday said a Rs 81.86 crore tourism development plan for Saptashringi Garh in Kalwan taluka of the district will be sanctioned soon, reported news agency PTI.

Saptashringi Garh is one of the 'Sade Teen' (three and half) Shakti Peethas of Adishakti or Goddess located in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar noted in his speech after the ground-breaking ceremony of development works worth Rs 494 crore in Kalwan and Surgana talukas of the district, reported PTI.

"A Rs 81.86 crore tourism development plan prepared with a view to boost tourism and enhance convenience of devotees will be sanctioned in a meeting with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis soon," he added.

A revised administrative plan for Otur dam in Kalwan district will also be sanctioned, Ajit Pawar said, reported PTI.

"The government has decided to give loans of upto Rs 3 lakh to farmers at zero percent interest rate. A solution will be found at the government level for the revival of the Nashik District Central Cooperative (NDCC) Bank, but everyone's cooperation is necessary for it. As in Saputara in Gujarat, efforts will be made to boost tourism in Surgana and Kalwan talukas. A plan will also be made for development of main roads in the district in view of the coming Simhastha Kumbh Mela," he said.

State food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal, assembly deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal, MP Sunil Tatkare, MLAs Manikro Koate, Dilip Bankar, Nitin Pawar, Hiraman Khoskar and others attended the programme.

Meanwhile, angry farmers showed black flags to Pawar at Vani-Kalwan square when he was on his way to Kalwan via Dindori.

The protesters, led by Shyam Hiray of the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP youth wing, threw onions and tomatoes on the road and tried to stop Pawar's convoy, claiming that he was silent on the issue of falling tomato and onion prices, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Friday met the warring factions of the NCP led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar over their claims to the party name and poll symbol.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar was present at the personal hearing of the rival factions called by the Election Commission, which decided to continue the proceedings on October 9.

Ajit Pawar, who had moved the Election Commission staking claim to the party name and poll symbol, submitted that he had the support of 42 of the 53 MLAs in Maharashtra, six of the nine MLCs, all seven MLAs in Nagaland and one member each in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

(With inputs from PTI)