Maharashtra wants environmental bonus for Gadchiroli

Maharashtra government has demanded the Planning Commission to grant an environmental bonus for Gadchiroli to develop this region, known for its green cover.

"We have demanded environmental bonus for Gadchiroli in our recent meeting with the Planning Commission as the region has 85-87% forest cover, which has hampered development there," chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said.

"We do not allow development in forest areas for its sustainability. Therefore, there is no drinking water facility electricity or roads for the tribals living there", Chavan said here after releasing the book <i>Aarthik Sudharna and Vikasacha Manvi Chehra</i> written by noted economist and educationist Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar yesterday.

Asserting that Maharashtra has become self-dependent in generating electricity Chavan said, "There is no option to generate electricity without coal but the state has gradually become self-dependent in generating electricity."