Thane, Apr 16 (PTI) Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Thursday assured that a joint meeting will be convened at the Mantralaya to remove technical and administrative obstacles hindering the construction of the Kalu and Shai dams in Thane district.
The assurance came during a ‘Janata Darbar’ organised in the city, where a BJP delegation led by corporator Namrata Koli submitted a memorandum highlighting the acute water scarcity in Thane.
Naik said he would coordinate with Water Conservation Minister Girish Mahajan to fast-track these projects, which have been stalled since 2002 due to land acquisition issues and opposition by local residents.
The delegation suggested offering relief packages to project-affected persons (PAPs) on the lines of the Barvi dam model, including options for 400-500 sq ft flats in Thane or lump-sum monetary compensation.
Talking to reporters later, Naik said the state is considering establishing ‘leopard safaris’ across various districts to promote tourism and manage the rising leopard population, which has increased fourfold over the last decade.
“While tiger safaris are being planned for Vidarbha, we are looking at leopard safaris for Konkan, Western Maharashtra and North Maharashtra. A separate plan for each district is being prepared,” Naik said.
He also warned that strict action is being taken against international poaching gangs active in regions like the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Mumbai’s Borivali.
Reacting to Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik’s announcement to cancel the licences of rickshaw and taxi drivers who cannot read or write Marathi by May 1, Naik sought a more balanced approach.
While agreeing that knowing the local language is essential for those working in the state, Naik said, “It is not possible to learn a language in a single day. They must be given sufficient time to learn. Those who initially issued the licences should have ensured this requirement was met then.” PTI COR NP
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