Maharashtra cabinet approves recruitment, irrigation and regional development reforms, check details

The Maharashtra Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved major policy decisions on Thursday covering irrigation tourism infrastructure healthcare recruitment and social welfare officials saidThe decisions were announced following the state cabinet meeting held in MumbaiThe cabinet approved a revised policy for the removal of silt and siltmixed sand from six major irrigation reservoirs on a pilot basisThe projects include Ujjani Girna Gosikhurd Mula Jayakwadi and Hatnur damsUnder the new policy farmers will receive fertile silt free of cost for agricultural use while only transportation charges will have to be paid by themThe government said the initiative would help increase water storage capacity improve irrigation efficiency and raise soil fertilityStrict monitoring measures such as CCTV surveillance GPS tracking geofencing and barcodebased epass systems will be used to prevent illegal sand extraction and irregularitiesRs 49 crore approved for Nashik irrigation schemeThe cabinet approved Rs 4926 crore for the AmboliVelunje diversion scheme in Nashik districtThe project aims to divert water flowing westwards into the Godavari basin and is expected to bring 165 hectares of land under irrigationThe government said the scheme would help improve local water availability and strengthen irrigation infrastructure in the regionSindhuratna Samruddhi Yojana extendedThe cabinet also approved the extension of the ldquoSindhuratna Samruddhi Yojana 20rdquo for another three years until 202829 for Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districtsBoth districts will receive Rs 200 crore each under the schemeThe programme focuses on tourism fisheries water sports coastal infrastructure and employment generation through the development of natural and marine resourcesThe Maharashtra government approved a policy regarding reserved category candidates appearing for competitive examinationsUnder the new rules candidates from reserved categories who avail relaxation in age educational qualification experience or number of attempts will not be eligible to claim open category posts on meritHowever candidates who do not use such relaxations will continue to be eligible for selection under the open category based on meritRelief for medical institutionsThe cabinet approved a proposal to increase the concession on development charges for registered medical institutions from 25 per cent to 50 per centThe move is expected to encourage faster construction of hospitals clinics and maternity homes and improve affordable healthcare infrastructure in the stateStamp duty relief for Nashik Ring Road projectThe cabinet approved stamp duty and registration fee concessions for land purchases linked to the Nashik Ring Road projectThe 6615kilometre project is expected to improve transport connectivity and support infrastructure development ahead of the Nashik Kumbh MelaThe government also approved the transfer of three government land parcels free of cost to the Pune Municipal Corporation for the MulaMutha river rejuvenation projectThe decision will waive occupancy charges worth over Rs 116 crore for the civic bodyChanges in Welfare and Administrative PoliciesThe cabinet approved the creation of vicechairperson posts in both the Maharashtra State Scheduled Tribes Commission and the Maharashtra State Scheduled Castes Commission to improve administrative coordinationIt also approved senior pay scales and selection grade benefits for higher secondary teachers working in aided residential schools under the VJNT category after 12 and 24 years of serviceSupport for Marathi LiteraryThe cabinet approved an annual grant of Rs 10 lakh for the Kusumagraj Pratishthan in Nashik for literary and cultural activitiesThe institution joins several other Marathi literary organisations already receiving government assistanceThe state government approved a revised organisational structure for the Soil and Water Conservation Department with approval for 8767 postsNew districtlevel offices and engineering teams will also be created to strengthen watershed management and conservation work across MaharashtraOrange import duty subsidy scheme scrappedThe cabinet decided to discontinue the subsidy scheme that reimbursed 50 per cent of import duty for oranges exported from Maharashtra to BangladeshThe government said the scheme had received poor response from farmers and that future focus would be on direct support and export infrastructure development