UN team to survey Ramtek’s industrial potential

Mohite, who belongs to Shiv Sena, had announced that a major programme would be initiated for socio-economic development of the predominently rural constituency. He said that the constituency remained backward inspite of having three industrial estates located in Hingna segment of the constituency.

People naturally blamed the successive MPs for the lack of development. In the light of this fact, it was felt that a proper survey of its industrial potential needs to be undertaken.

About other steps initiated for creating better industrial climate in the constituency, he said entrepreneurship development camps of 45 days each were conducted at tehsil towns of Katol and Narkhed. In addition, a single-window system is being introduced to help entrepreneurs willing to set up small scale units in the constituency,

A national-level symposium on coal-based fertlisers has been organised with a view to tapping the vast potential in the region. The symposium will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Suresh Prabhu on July 7 in the city.

Mohite informed that a quick survey of the pressing needs of villages in the constituency was conducted by him in last six months. Based on the first hand information about the needs of rural areas, a package has been worked out for equitable distribution of funds at his disposal as a Member of Parliament.

He said a list of developmental projects to be taken up under the MP Local Area Development Schemes has already been submitted to the district administration.

The Sena MP is deeply impressed by the system developed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to link towns with the capital by using computer network. He said efforts will be made to provide a computer link between the State capital and the tehsil town of Katol.

About the possibility of tapping the tourism potential of Ramtek, he said the Central government has agreed to provide funds from a special tourism development scheme. Ramtek has been included in the list of 200-odd centre selected for tourism development.

He has submitted a non-official Bill in the Lok Sabha suggesting creation of a statutory board headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission for development of backward regions. The Bill provides for direct funding from the Central government to the board for implementing development schemes for backward regions. It also provides for appointment of MPs from the backward regions and experts on the board.

In reply to a question, the Sena MP criticised the budget presented by Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha saying that the withdrawal of subsidy on fertilisers, foodgrains and on kerosene would certainly affect the poor. He said that he had raised these issues in Lok Sabha.