“Maharashtra is set to become the first State in the country to achieve a $1 trillion economy. "Maharashtra is marching ahead; it’s not going to stop,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to the Opposition’s resolution from the previous week in the Legislative Assembly. He also effectively highlighted the State’s achievements in the industrial sector and rubbished rumors that Mumbai would be separated from Maharashtra. On the concluding day of Winter Session, the Chief Minister said such projections are made everytime during elections.

 

He also reminded the Opposition benches that the Government has not forgotten its mandate, and rejected the notion that ongoing welfare schemes are going to be stopped. He also quoted RBI and FRBM figures to rubbish the talk of Maharashtra heading to bankruptcy, but admitted that the monetary position is not that rosy and not weak as is being claimed. Armed with data and backed by facts, Fadnavis cut short the tall claims of the Opposition who painted the town red on Saturday, projecting as if darkness is prevailing everywhere.

 

Countering it on Sunday, Chief Minister said on the agriculture front alone, the farmers are going to get day time power through tapping of solar energy for which about 16,000 MW contracts were issued. The power is going to come on stream by mid 2026 and to date 3,000 MW projects are completed. Maharashtra is aiming for generation of 26,682 MW through renewable energy sources. The advantage of solar power is that State is going to save Rs 10,000 crore annually due to lower rate discovered through competitive bidding. At the same time, Rs 5,500 crore outflow on agriculture power subsidy is also going to be saved.

 

Informing about the positive outcome of this, Fadnavis said 16,000 MW solar power generation is going to save massive carbon footprint and if same was done through thermal power then about 2.75 lakh saplings were need to be planted. In act, State is anticipating 36,000 MW generation of green power by next decade of which 1500 MW will be round the clock generation. In fact, Maharashtra is planning to have 82,000 MW contracting of power by year 2030 when demand is going to rise manifold and of it 36,000 MW is going to be green power. Similarly, the long pending issue of paid pending for agriculture pumps is history and happily informed House about Guinness Book of Records by MSEDCL for affixing 45,110 pumps.

 

In fact, Maharashtra is going to be leader in pumped storage generation and same would help in stabilising grid. While we have signed accord for 76,000 MW of power and aim to scale them to 1 lakh MW. Our requirement is only 8,000 MW and rest of the power is going to be exported to national grid helping it stabilise the frequency. Of this 25 per cent will be through on/off option which is best suited for grid stability requirement. Lower Tariff : The main advantage of solar power is that benefits will accrue to consumers in all sectors. So far there was annual 9 per cent increase in tariff.

 

From now on average the tariff is going to be reduce 2 per cent annually. Irrigation: The talk about irrigation backlog is going to be consigned to pages of history as in Akola about 14,530 lakh Ha irrigation capacity is being created against need for 13.83 lakh Ha. At Buldhana the Jigaon project is going to be game changer for which Rs 2399 crore is sanctioned as aim is to created 1.38 lakh Ha irrigation potential against backlog of 29,000 Ha. The last district with backlog, Hingoli has been sanctioned 485 project for tapping 22.31 lakh Ha potential. Coming to Gosikhurd, of the 2.59 lakh Ha potential, 2.09 lakh Ha is already achieved and rest is going to be complete by June 2027.

 

The State has released Rs 1555 crore for the same. About 5950 crore is sanctioned for deepening Irrigation potential. Vid magnet of new investment, Ngp to be leader in solar sector Addressing issue of as to what is given to Vidarbha, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said as per rules about 23 per cent state budgetary resources is to be given to the region, and in fact State has disbursed 25.83 per cent. Similarly for Marathwada the mandate was 18 per cent, but about 19 per cent is given.

 

On industrial front, Vidarbha is going to be leader in manufacturing of solar units, from photovoltic of every other component. And all the big companies are setting up their units in the region. Specifically about MIHAN, the salient point is that the Big 6 in Information Technology front in country have their establishments here. About 31 companies are functioning having created 1,27225 direct jobs.