Asserting that the Arpa Mahotsav will give a new identity to Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the beautiful way in which the foundation of the Arpa Mahotsav has been established, it will be celebrated in much more grandeur manner in future. The Chief Minister took the opportunity to announce that final of the four installments under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojna, amounting to Rs 5,750 crore will be distributed online into the farmers’ accounts ahead of March 31, 2021. Speaking at the valedictory function of the Arpa Mahotsav which was held on Wednesday coinciding with the first anniversary of the foundation of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district, said it should been made a district with the formation of Chhattisgarh state but was neglected. However, when the new government came to power, the dream of the people here was fulfilled with the new district coming into existence in 2020. He said soon after it got the district status, development gained momentum here. He assured that development works will be carried out with full force in this district along with developing it as a district with tourism significance. On the occasion the Chief Minister announced installation of statues of Late (Dr) Bhanwar Singh Porte in the colleges and schools established in his memory.

 

He also dedicated and laid foundation stones for development works worth Rs 20 crore for the people of the district. Present on the occasion were Speaker Dr Charan Das Mahant, Revenue Minister Jaisingh Agrawal, MLAs Rashmi Singh, K K Dhruv, Shailesh Pandey and Mohit Kerketta and large numbers of public representatives. Extending his best wishes to the people of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district for Arpa Mahotsav which coincided with the first anniversary of the district, said glimpses of the glorious of the culture and tradition of this district is evident in this Arpa Mahotsav, where our traditions have been presented in a new way. He said the land of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi is very sacred where water from River Ganges, Narmada, Son and Mahanadi flow from here. The first word of our State Song is Arpa, which defines the significance of the region.

 

He said Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore had stayed in Pendra for a period of one and a half years as his wife was undergoing treatment here and undoubtedly his compositions might have been influenced from the natural beauty of this place. He stressed that those compositions should be traced and read during this Mahotsav. The Chief Minister said a foundation stone for the press club has been laid which will be constructed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh in the memory of Late Pt Madhavrao Sapre.

 

He said that a new record has been created on paddy procurement under Minimum Support Price as the state procured 93 lakh MT paddy from 20.58 lakh farmers and an amount of Rs 17,322 crore has been transferred to their account. On the occasion the Chief Minister also released a book which is a collection of 100 years old write ups of Late Pt Madhavrao Sapre. Speaker Dr Charan Das Mahant and Revenue Minister Jaisingh Agrawal also spoke on the occasion. Also present on the occasion were Bilaspur Zila Panchayat President Arun Singh Chauhan, Hemkunwar Shyam, Rakesh Jalan, Gangotri Rathore, Asha Maravi, Mamta Paikra, Bilaspur Commissioner Dr Sanjay Alang, IG Bilaspur Range Ratanlal Dangi, SP Suraj Singh Parihar and other officials.