Maharashtra to be drought-free by 2019, says governor C Vidyasagar Rao

Outlining the state government's initiatives and plans, governor C Vidyasagar Rao, in his speech during the joint session of the upper and lower houses, said Maharasthra will be drought-free by 2019. His statement on Fadnavis government's road map comes amid Marathwada facing one of the worst droughts in several years.

He also highlighted a slew of ongoing and new measures that look to improve citizens' lives, such as a system for CCTVs in 90 weeks, toilet facilities, better traffic management, share in water resource management, e-governance measures, increasing installed power capacity in state by 3,230MW, skill development, textile hub, mother and child-tracking system and IIITs and IIMs. Though he skipped mention of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial, he reiterated commitment for Ambedkar's memorial at Indu Mills and even one for the late Gopinath Munde in Aurangabad.

Rao's speech emphasised on delivery of services, improving service mechanism, and addressing women-centric issues and safety of workers and markets.