Mumbai: The ‘Marathwada Water Grid’ scheme is being implemented to permanently solve the water shortage in Marathwada and ensure robust water supply. Under this project, 11 major dams of Marathwada will be connected through pipelines and drinking water will be provided to cities and villages across the region. Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil gave information about the project and said that this project will provide sustainable water supply to Marathwada.

The cooperation of global level banks will be taken to implement this scheme, Patil said. A review meeting was held with representatives of global banks in the ministry regarding this project. Many important officials including Principal Secretary of Water Supply and Sanitation Department Sanjay Khandare, Member Secretary of Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran Abhishek Krishna, Chief Executive Officer of ‘Mitra’ Praveensinh Pardeshi, Director of Jal Jeevan Mission Abhiyan E Ravindran, and Secretary of Water Resources Department Sanjay Belsare were present in this meeting.

Long-term water supply to Marathwada will be ensured through this project. Along with this, as per the advice of the central government, the project will be set up and implemented by taking loans from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and New Development Bank. The implementation of the project will be coordinated by the ‘Mitra’ institution, as told by Minister Gulabrao Patil.

The ‘Mitra’ institution has taken the initiative to discuss the project further and coordinate with the concerned banks. Patil expressed confidence that the project will significantly help in solving the water problem of Marathwada.

Mumbai: The lack of educational facilities, midday meals for children, and proper implementation of government schemes in private schools running in the streets of the state has increased the concern of parents. As a measure against this, the School Education Department has started preparing a new manual to bring private schools under government control.

According to the new National Education Policy, pre-primary education for children between 3 and 6 years of age has been considered important, and it is proposed to include private schools in this policy as well. Currently, many schools running in the streets are running without any manual and are out of the control of the local administration. It has been assured that a suitable educational environment will be created for the children under this new rule of the Education Department.

Under the new regulations, educational curriculum for children will be implemented in the balwadis, along with midday meals and appropriate schemes for the physical and mental development of children. This is expected to provide quality education to the children.

It has not yet been decided which department will control these balwadis – the School Education Department, the Women and Child Welfare Department, and the Integrated Child Development Services Department. However, it is believed that this decision will reduce the anxiety of parents and improve the educational quality of children.

Mumbai: Sharad Pawar had expressed displeasure over the lack of a meeting of the constituent parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi after the results of the assembly elections. However, a meeting of the leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi was held on Tuesday, in which important decisions were taken. The post of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly was given to Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction, while it was decided to give the post of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council to the Congress.

Anil Parab and Sunil Prabhu from Uddhav Thackeray’s party, Sharad Pawar’s state president Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad from the Nationalist Congress Party, and state president Nana Patole and Naseem Khan from the Congress were present in the meeting. The decision of the parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi was approved in this meeting.

The post of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly was selected by Uddhav Thackeray’s party, and it was decided to give the post of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council to the Congress. This decision will maintain balance among the three major parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Now Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and senior Congress leaders will approve this decision. This decision of the Maha Vikas Aghadi is expected to strengthen its position in the upcoming elections.