State-Level Tourism Festival To Be Held In Mahabaleshwar: Minister Shambhuraj Desai

A grand three-day state-level tourism festival will be held in the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani area after the 10th and 12th exams are over, Maharashtra Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai said, directing the administration to select a suitable venue for the festival.

Desai held a meeting at the Satara District Collectorate to review approved, ongoing and proposed development works in the region. Present at the occasion were Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Yashni Nagarajan, Superintendent of Police Sameer Sheikh, Sub-Conservator of Forests Aditi Bhardwaj, Executive Engineer of Public Works Department Rahul Ahire, Water Resources Department’s Arun Naik, Deputy Collector Revenue Vikrant Chavan, District Planning Officer Shashikant Mali, District Surgeon Yuvraj Karpe and officers from various departments.

Many development works have been approved before the elections. Desai reviewed the current status of these projects, including the administrative building at Patan, the sub-district hospital building and Balasaheb Desai’s memorial in Daulatnagar. Other projects include a theatre, a boys’ hostel, a training institute building for the State Excise Department, a bridge on the national highway at Nagthane, various rehabilitation works in the Patan Assembly constituency and the Ahilyadevi Holkar Memorial. All works were reviewed during this meeting.

Desai said that the Satara district, which is implementing the Smart Primary Health Centre and Model School pattern, has become a model for the state. The government has decided to implement both of these initiatives across the state. The works of many schools and PHCs included in these initiatives will be completed in the next two months. He also reviewed both schemes, noting that about ₹153 crore has been provided through the District Planning Committee for these activities.

During the meeting, it was noted that delays in work on the National Highway at Nagthane are causing traffic jams with queues extending about 10 km. Officials were directed to take necessary action to avoid traffic congestion at this location. Local villagers are demanding a second underpass road, and accordingly, a separate proposal should be prepared. There are difficulties in obtaining farmers’ approval for many roads. After discussion, tehsildars and Group Development Officers were directed to visit locations where farmers’ approval is difficult and secure their consent. Rehabilitation work should begin before the monsoon. Agencies were directed to ensure the completion of all works approved through the District Planning Committee under any circumstances.

<!– Published on: Saturday, January 11, 2025, 12:57 PM IST –>
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