Amravati, 24 June (HS): Amravati MLA Sulbha Sanjay Khodke has raised legislative

questions regarding the pending status and delay in the reconstitution of the

Vidarbha Statutory Development Board. To fill the backlog of development in the

state, the government established a statutory development corporation for

Vidarbha, Marathwada and the rest of Maharashtra. However, even though the term

of the board expired in 2020, the statutory board has not been reconstituted

yet. The delay has affected the policy decision-making process regarding the

development of backward areas. What action has been taken by the state

government to fill the backlog created in all respects? What measures have been

taken? What are the reasons for the delay in this regard? MLA Sulabha Sanjay

Khodke has raised this question in her written attention during monsoon session.

The monsoon session of the state legislature has begun in Mumbai and during the

session, she has submitted a number of questions to the legislature and work is

also being done on them in writing until these questions are discussed in the

house. The three statutory development boards of Vidarbha, Marathwada and Rest

of Maharashtra, which were established to remove the imbalance in regional

development in the state, were not reconstituted even after their term expired

on April 30, 2020. In her written notice, MLA Khodke has raised important

issues and apprised the government of the impact on development.

The delay in the reorganization of the said boards has affected the policy

decision-making process regarding the development of backward areas and has

affected the objectives of equitable distribution of funds, elimination of

development backlog and achieving regional balance in the sectors of

irrigation, agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, industrial

investment and employment generation, and it has been observed that the

development backlog in Vidarbha and Marathwada has increased further. Dr. Vijay

Bhake has been appointed for Vidarbha and Anil Ramod for Marathwada and since

the boards themselves do not exist, each board is spending at least three

crores every year due to administrative reasons and even while the

reorganization of the boards is pending, their offices are functioning and a

significant amount of government funds are being spent on salaries and

administrative expenses on the officers and employees there every year. In

addition, she has raised other issues.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi