20.12.10

Why cannot Maha emulate Gujarat on development?

Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had a word of appreciation for the development model in Gujarat where, according to him, the ruling party, the Opposition and the media have come together to take the state forward. During an informal interaction with reporters in Pune on Friday night, he said, “When it comes to the development of the state, the ruling party, the Opposition and the media there join their hands to ensure that the state procures various important projects. Why does it not happen in Maharashtra?”
Pawar was responding to the queries about the stiff opposition being put up against the nuclear power project proposed to be set up at Jaitapur in Ratnagiri. The protesters contention is that if the plant comes up there, it will serve a major blow to environment. “Similar objections were raised when Enron power plant was set up, when the protesters had claimed that it would damage the horticulture of the Konkan belt. Nothing of the sort happened,” Pawar said, adding that Maharashtra suffered from deficit in power supply and needed additional plants to make progress in the industrial front and to generate employment. “If every project in the state is opposed, how will it develop?”

No comments: