Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has urged energy sector officials to expedite the installation of solar agriculture channels in villages and directed them to submit progress reports within 15 days. The solar agriculture channel project is a flagship initiative of the Maharashtra government.
The CM emphasised the need to address any challenges faced by project developers, particularly land encroachment issues, by conducting regular review meetings with district collectors and police chiefs.
He also announced that developers no longer need a no objection certificate from village panchayats to proceed with the project. In case of land encroachments, he instructed the authorities concerned to hold joint meetings to address the issue.
Fadnavis also directed that all necessary project permits for solar agriculture channels be provided online. He assured that any issues that cannot be resolved at the district or village levels would be escalated to the state ministry.
In a related review meeting at Sahyadri Guest House, Fadnavis also discussed the use of artificial intelligence (AI), remote sensing (RS), and geographic information systems (GIS) to accurately estimate sugarcane area, production, and productivity for the upcoming crushing season.
Sustainable sugarcane, warehouse projects
In addition to the solar agriculture initiative, the CM suggested that the adoption of AI, RS and GIS technology would help both farmers and sugar factories in the efficient planning of available cane for crushing.
Furthermore, Fadnavis reviewed the government’s ambitious grain storage project under which 100 cooperatives will build warehouses ranging from 300 to 1000 metric tons.
Water supply projects and solarisation
Fadnavis reviewed the progress of the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission and advised that its work be conducted in a mission mode and that solarisation be incorporated to reduce energy consumption. He also suggested skill development programmes for youth under the ‘Nal Jal Mitra’ scheme and recommended providing training through the state’s skill development initiative.
DBT for welfare schemes
The CM directed the immediate implementation of direct benefit transfers (DBT) for the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and Shravanbal Seva State Pension Scheme.
Additionally, Fadnavis instructed the department to expedite the launch of the portal for the Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme and ensure the creation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all public corporations under the department.
