In an interview with Sakal Times, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari speaks about the development plans for the State and the plans for tackling droughts and floods.
Q. What are the development plans for the Pune region?
A: Around Rs 1 lakh crore were allocated for the development of the Pune region, which includes widening of roads, building 4-lane roads in Pune and the neighbouring towns. However, our main project is to build ‘Palkhi Marg’ for the Warkaris to be used during Palkhi processions across the Pune region. We are also planning highways through Maharashtra connecting to other States. Some of the development work has already been completed and we are working on the remaining and trying to finish the work at the earliest. My only aim is to fulfil all the promises. Special funds of about Rs 3,750 crore have been released for the ‘Palkhi Marg’, which will have proper toilet facilities, roadside amenities and places to rest. The work has already begun and we hope to finish it soon.
Q. Can you give details about the plan to boost e-vehicles in the State?
A: I’m trying to make the automotive industry cost-effective, bring import substitute policy and boost the indigenous production while reducing the pollution. We have plans not only to increase the number of e-vehicles in Maharashtra, but we are also promoting the use of ethanol for bikes, cars and buses. I have started the bio-CNG project as well. My aim is to make Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Nagpur and Wardha districts diesel-free. I’m sure this will help reduce pollution. In a new initiative, we recently successfully made gas from the toilet water and at present, 400 buses and 150 cars are running on this gas in Nagpur.
Q. We see the destruction caused by floods in Maharashtra. What steps are you taking now to avoid such a situation in the future?
A: We are planning to make provisions to divert and store the flood water or extra water during heavy rainfall and use that water, later on, to avoid huge damage and losses due to floods.
Q. Drought is another problem that the State faces every year. What is your plan of action on this?
A: While I was Water Resource Minister, I gave more than Rs 4,098 crore for re-starting 134 projects across the State which were halted like Tembhu and Mhaisal irrigation projects. Now, these projects are nearing completion and the water has already started reaching Solapur, Satara and Sangli districts. Once all the projects are ready, the State’s water resources will go up by 50 per cent and this will reduce water scarcity. Thus I am sure that farmers' suicides will reduce across the State. We have started a plan wherein we will widen the nalas and rivers on the highway routes and help in increasing water storage capacity. We have already done this at many places and increased the water storage capacity and a lot of water has been stored underground in Akola, Buldhana, Vashi and many parts of Maharashtra due to this.
About dual-use bridges, we have planned to build 170 bridge-cum-bandharas across the State. We have already built three in Latur, some in Solapur as well. These can be used as bridges and also to create water storage. The stored water can be used by nearby villages for drinking and irrigation purposes. With farmers' permission, we are constructing free ponds for farmers in drought-hit areas in lieu of the soil for highway projects. So this way we are trying to reduce the water shortage across the State.
Q. Lot of deforestation is taking place for the highways and other projects. What steps are you taking for reforestation?
A: The plan is to plant 36 crore trees near roads and highways. The work has already started and we have already planted many trees. However, it was stopped due to recent floods. So now, we will continue the work in next 15 days as we aim to make ‘green highways’.
Q. There has been an economic slowdown. Are you planning anything to revive the economy?
A: There is an economic slowdown for sure, and we are ready to help the finance minister and the prime minister with anything they want.
