New Delhi [India], July 31 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, met with Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Friday to request special relaxations in central infrastructure schemes to accelerate development in the state’s Bastar region.
Speaking after the meeting, Chief Minister Sai highlighted that after decades of insurgency, Bastar has transitioned into a peaceful zone, creating an urgent need for robust road connectivity to integrate the region into mainstream development.
“Today, accompanied by our state’s Deputy CM Vijay Sharma, we met with the Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan; officials were also present during the meeting. After 40-50 years, our Bastar region has finally become Naxal-free, and there is a great need for development there. Connectivity is crucial from a development perspective,” said Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.
The Chief Minister noted that while Chhattisgarh has benefited significantly under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the unique demographic profile of Bastar poses challenges under standard central funding guidelines.
Because the region features low population density spread across vast geographical areas, strict population thresholds under current PMGSY norms make it difficult to construct roads connecting remote habitations.
“Although we have received many roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the population density in that area is very low; therefore, we met with the Minister to request some relaxation in the scheme’s norms. He listened to us patiently and assured us that he would take the initiative in this matter,” Sai said.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised the Chief Minister’s leadership and stated that the Centre is planning a “different type of road network” for the region.
“Today, I held very productive discussions regarding issues concerning Chhattisgarh with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai–under whose leadership the state is scaling new heights of progress and development and has now become Naxal-free–and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also holds the Rural Development portfolio… We will script a new story of development in Bastar, which is now peaceful. Given the unique conditions in Bastar and the lack of major development works there in recent years, we are planning to construct a different type of road network under PMGSY. Although population density in this region is low, there is a critical need for roads. We considered a fresh approach involving some relaxation of the scheme’s standard norms for this area,” Chouhan said.
The Union Minister also expressed satisfaction with the state’s overall performance in rural development and agriculture.
“We are very optimistic. Chhattisgarh is also effectively implementing the VB-G RAM G initiative. Wages there have increased from Rs 261 to 300… We have taken decisions regarding the construction of cremation grounds and toilets… Chhattisgarh is constructing 1,500 houses daily under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana… Satisfactory progress is being made in the activities of the Rural Development and Agriculture ministries in Chhattisgarh,” Chouhan added.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also holds the Rural Development portfolio in the state, was part of the high-level delegation. (ANI)
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