Maharashtra cabinet approves scheme to build motorable farm-to-field roads

The Maharashtra cabinet has approved a scheme to construct allweather motorable approach roads connecting agricultural fields across rural parts of the state reported PTIThe decision was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday an official statement saidThe Mukhya Mantri Baliraja ShetPanand Raste Yojana allows 100 per cent mechanised construction replacing earlier limitations under the MGNREGA framework where dependence on manual labour had slowed execution in several regions reported PTIThe scheme will ensure allweather motorable farmtofield roads in rural Maharashtra the statement said reported PTIRevenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule who will head the monitoring committee for the scheme said farmers have faced persistent challenges with damaged or inaccessible roads during the monsoon affecting crop sowing harvesting and transportation reported PTIThe scheme provides for 100 per cent use of machinery for speedy and quality construction There will be no dependence on manual labour availabilityThe other highlights include waiver of survey fees measurement charges and police bandobast expenses and exemption of royalty on soil sand murum and stones required for road work the statement said reported PTIIt also mandates tree plantation along both sides of the road and introduces clusterbased tendering in 25km packages to accelerate implementationThe scheme will be rolled out across all districts of Maharashtra and monitored by the highlevel committee headed by the revenue minister the statement said reported PTIDecision on LoPs in both Houses to be taken by presiding officers govt has no role FadnavisMeanwhile Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the Opposition was directionless and asserted the decision to appoint Leader of Opposition in the assembly and council comes under the jurisdiction of the respective presiding officersThe state government has no say in it he said addressing a press conference in Nagpur on the eve of the Winter session of the state legislatureWhatever decision is taken by the presiding officers of both Houses is acceptable to his government the CM emphasisedEarlier in the day the Opposition boycotted the governments customary tea party on the eve of the Winter session citing its failure to appoint LoPs in both HousesThe Oppositions press conference appeared full of frustration and theatrics It is not the governments role to announce the Leader of Opposition Only the Speaker and the Council Chairman have the authority to do so the CM pointed outWith inputs from PTI