A public works department (PWD) official said that of the 37 projects with a sanctioned cost of Rs 916.28 crore and 358.46 km length which were being executed under RRP-I, work had been completed on 34.
To blunt the challenge of Left-wing extremism in Gadchiroli, the state government is constructing a network of all-weather roads for faster deployment of the police and security forces. It has also rolled-out development initiatives to mainstream the tribal-dominated district by electrifying all 1,688 villages by March 2018 and training youth for employment in sectors like hospitality.
"We are focussing on micro-planning for electrification, roads and employment. We will electrify all villages by March by conventional electricity through the grid and 41 villages will be powered through solar energy," said ASR Naik, district collector, Gadchiroli. He added that while the Road Requirement Plan (RRP-I) was being implemented, work on its second phase would begin soon in the Left-wing extremism (LWE) affected district in Vidarbha.
A senior home department official said under the RRP, work was undertaken on building all-weather roads which were needed for speedy deployment of the police and paramilitary forces. This includes two-laning, widening and strengthening of district roads, state highways, other district roads (ODR) and major district roads. These works are launched based on the recommendations of the police.
A public works department (PWD) official said that of the 37 projects with a sanctioned cost of Rs 916.28 crore and 358.46 km length which were being executed under RRP-I, work had been completed on 34. "Work is underway on three roads and a bridge which have a total 42 km length under this centrally-sponsored scheme," the official said. The RRP-I was sanctioned from 2010-11.
"We have proposed six roads and 39 bridges under RRP-II with a 131.5 km length. These are at the detailed project report (DPR) stage and work is expected to start in six to eight months," he added. These are expected to cost Rs 270 crore.
A Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MahaVitaran) official said of the 1,688 villages in Gadchiroli, electrification was to be completed for 227.
"Though we have a target of connecting 91 villages to the grid by June-end, we expect that at least 70 villages will be electrified. The remaining villages will be electrified by March 2018. However, there are 41 villages where it is difficult to work due to logistical constraints. These will be handed over to the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) for electrification through renewable resources like solar power," he explained, adding that this would cost Rs 225 crore.
The MahaVitaran will give out 1,400 agricultural connections in Gadchiroli by the end of this fiscal. It has just 18,000 agricultural consumers in the district.
An official from the district employment and self-employment guidance centre said so far, they had selected 4,700 students for the central and state government's skill development schemes. Of these, 3,455 had completed training in trades like bed-side assistants, electricians, welders, construction and hospitality and 2,315 had secured employment. He added that they planned to select 1,900 more youth for skilling by March 2018.
According to the 2011 Census, Gadchiroli has a population of 10,72,942 of which 89% live in rural areas.
The percentage of scheduled tribes is 49.96%.
The literacy rate is just 66%.
The forest cover in Gadchiroli is Maharashtra's highest at 75.86%.
The main sources of employment are paddy cultivation, tendu leaf picking, and the district has negligible presence of industries barring forest-based ones and a mining site. The state has facilitated work on an integrated steel plant at Charmoshi.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "DNA")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}