Mumbai — The Maharashtra Cabinet made significant decisions in its latest meeting on Wednesday, focusing on environmental protection and major infrastructure projects.
Increased Penalties for Illegal Tree Cutting
In a move to enhance environmental conservation, the Cabinet approved a substantial increase in the fine for cutting trees without a license. The penalty has been raised from the previous amount of Rs 1,000 to Rs 50,000. Additionally, any illegally cut trees, along with the tools used for their removal, will be confiscated by the government. This measure aims to deter illegal deforestation and protect the state’s forest resources.
Vainganga-Nalganga River-Linking Project
The Cabinet also greenlit the ambitious Vainganga-Nalganga river-linking project, a major infrastructure initiative valued at Rs 87,342 crore. The project is designed to address irrigation needs in the Vidarbha region, specifically targeting the irrigation of 3.74 lakh hectares of land.
The plan involves channeling water from the Vainganga River, which is part of the Godavari sub-basin, into the Nalganga project located in Buldhana district in western Vidarbha. To support this, a network of canals stretching a total of 426.52 kilometers will be constructed. This project is expected to significantly boost agricultural productivity and water availability in the region.
“Har Ghar Tiranga” Campaign
In addition to these measures, the state government will launch the “Har Ghar Tiranga” (Tricolour in Every House) campaign from August 9 to 15. The campaign aims to promote national pride by encouraging the hoisting of the Indian tricolour at 2.5 crore homes across the state. The official launch will take place at Mumbai’s August Kranti Ground on August 9, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, in attendance. The tricolour hoisting will be carried out in homes between August 13 and 15.
These initiatives reflect the Maharashtra government’s commitment to both environmental stewardship and national pride, marking a proactive approach to addressing key issues and promoting community engagement.
