Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar pitched for a Konkan University while talking at the four-day ‘Global Konkan Parishad’ held at the NSE Grounds in Goregaon (East) to push for the development of the Konkan region.
“There is too much pressure on Mumbai University and there is a need to have one in the Konkan region as well,” said Pawar. He added that the people of the region must start availing the several benefits that are made available to them by the state and Centre for the development of the region.
In his speech, Pawar stated that while tourism and industries are things that could be looked at, fisheries should also be given importance. “Kerala earns around Rs4,000 crores from fisheries. There is a need to develop fisheries and aqua-culture in the region,” he said.
He added that there was also need for people to come together in the state when the question of its development arises. “Unlike Gujarat, where the parties in power as well as the Opposition have one view on the development of the state, it is not the case in Maharashtra,” said Pawar.
In response to this, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who was also present at the function, said, “I will hold a meeting with all the MLAs of the Konkan region so that they come together for the development of the region.”
Chavan said that the government must not just be a regulator, but also a facilitator. “Private businesses should come up, but in such a way that they do not damage the environment,” he said.
The four-day festival has various stalls that gave a glimpse of life in the Konkan region. The food stalls offer masalas, pickles, fruits, food, cashew and other things that the Konkan is known for.
