Uddhav promises aid to farmers after first cabinet meet
The Uddhav Thackeray-led state government held its first cabinet meeting soon after the chief minister and six of his ministers were sworn-in on Thursday evening. As a symbolic gesture, Thackeray allocated Rs20 crore more to complete the ongoing conservation work of Raigad Fort. The project is worth Rs606 crore.
Although the new government was expected to announce a complete loan waiver for farmers, the chief minister said the decision will be taken in the next few days. Thackeray said the chief secretary has been asked to present real-time status of the schemes meant for farmers. “We don’t want to a decision in haste. Our priority is the welfare of farmers. After a review of the loan waiver, crop insurance and the Prime Minister Sanman Nidhi scheme, we will announce a comprehensive package,” he said.
The BJP, however, was quick to slam the government and its plans. “It is unfortunate that the Common Minimum Programme of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government does not even mention backward regions of Marathwada, Vidarbha and North Maharashtra... One can only hope the new government will focus on these regions,” said Devendra Fadnavis, leader of the Opposition.
Thackeray, in response, said the CMP was comprehensive. “He has been chief minister and should understand that we have not focussed on any specific region. It is a vision document for the entire state,” said Thackeray.
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39-km ring road project: Ambala admn to disburse land compensation from next week
Compensation against land acquired for the Ambala ring road project will be disbursed to land owners from next week, officials of the district administration said on Thursday. “NHAI has already released ₹150 crore for land compensation. Further process for disbursement will be initiated by the district revenue officer,” said Kuldeep Chand, an official from the technical branch of NHAI's Ambala zone office.
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Pegged as self-financed, several Panjab University courses proving economically unviable
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Chandigarh family away at Shimla finds house burgled after return
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Lower liquor prices in Punjab cause slump in sales in Chandigarh
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Lineman electrocuted in Dera Bassi, PSPCL JE booked for negligence
A day after a 26-year-old lineman was electrocuted to death while fixing power lines in Mubarakpur, Dera Bassi, the police on Thursday lodged an FIR against a junior engineer with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. The junior engineer, Talwinder Singh, was booked under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code. The deceased lineman, Mandeep Singh, was a resident of Sundran village, Dera Bassi.
