The Vidarbha Economic Development Council (VED) on Sunday reiterated that the task of influencing the policy makers to set up petrochemical complex in Vidarbha will be its top priority. Addressing the members of the Council at the 27th annual general body meeting (AGM) held here, Shivkumar Rao, President of the body, said that the petrochemical complex and some other projects in mining sector would change the face of the region and thus VED would continue to work in that direction. Rao, who will continue to lead the council for next term, elected also spoke about the webinars that were held during the Covid lockdown, the problems faced by small mines, basic infrastructure needed in tourism, and museum for Mansar excavations. In his presidential address, Rao further highlighted the steps initiated in the field of fisheries, dairy, agro-tourism.

 

“Wainganga could be given as a pilot project which would lead to a significant rise in the per capita income of the region,” he said. He made a presentation on the impact VED has had since its inception. A cooperative society formed by VED was taken over by the Horticulture Board and VED transferred the brand-name, ‘Mahaorange’ to the Governments of Maharashra. In 1999, at a Mines & Minerals Expo, policy recommendation was made and a separate ministry was created for Mines and Minerals as well as a District Mineral Fund (DMF). Dinesh Naidu gave a brief sketch of the ASI Circle that came to be set up in Nagpur after VED’s intervention. Varun Vijaywargi, Secretary General - VED, spoke of future plans for VED wherein he highlighted the development of the hinterland; services that could come up as a centre here; and to pitch for a second unit of International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at MIHAN. Rahul Upganlawar, Vice- President, gave details of how IIM and IIIT were brought to Nagpur and that the forum is all geared up to engage with the Central and State Governments to ensure recognised educational institutions are located in Nagpur. Presentation by P Maheshwari, Vice President, was on five projects that could come up here:- petrochemical complex, large integrated steel plant at Gadchiroli; large commando and disaster management institute at Gadchiroli; country’s largest manganese processing cluster; and first Tiger Airport at Gondia. B K Shukla, Head of the Focus Area on Mines and Minerals, and Rajeev Agarwal, Head of the focus area on Environment; also spoke about work done in the concerned areas. Devendra Parekh, IPP, announced that the Executive Committee members remained the same as in the earlier tenure, with the addition in the Executive Committee of Kamlesh Daga, representing Amravati. Treasurer - Navin Malewar made the Treasurer’s Report while Varun Vijaywargi proposed the vote of thanks. 

 

Rao to lead VED for one more term The office-bearers for the new term of Vidarbha Economic Development Council are - Shivkumar Rao - President; Devendra Parekh - IPP; Pankaj Mahajan, Pradeep Maheshwari and Rahul Upganlawar - Vice-Presidents; Varun Vijaywargi - Secretary General, Navin Malewar - Treasurer, Atul Tajpuriya, Dinesh Naidu and Malhar Deshpande - Joint Secretaries.