Nagpur: Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday that the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra had seen a rapid growth in the three years of the Narendra Modi government.
“We have completed almost all the promises we made to the people of Vidarbha and Nagpur, and the credit goes to everyone from public representatives to the officials. We plan to do many things in the upcoming years for this region,” Mr. Gadkari said at a press conference at his residence.
He said the work on MIHAN International Airport is expected to start this year. "Next month, the NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) will increase its operations in Vidarbha and Marathwada. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation has already allotted 40 places to the NDDB for the sale of milk. We expect to reach milk production of up to 25 lakh litre in the next few years. Three more projects — the agarbatti project, honey processing unit and fisheries — will be operational very soon,” he said.
When asked about the debt waiver for farmers, he said even his party had demanded it when it was in the opposition. “But it will not stop farmers’ suicides. We plan to stop it by increasing irrigation,” Mr.Gadkari said.
“I have requested the State government to increase the irrigation budget. The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister told me yesterday that his State has achieved 24% agriculture growth rate because of construction of wells. We plan to do the same in Vidarbha. The Devendra Fadnavis government has already given electric connections to five lakh farmers and plans to double the number in the next two years,” Mr.Gadkari said.
