In the first cabinet meeting held in Aurangabad on Tuesday, BJP-led state government has announced a Diwali package for Marathwada worth Rs. 49,248 Crore with major allocation for the irrigation sector and infrastructural development in the drought-prone region.

According to the experts, the package has been announced at a time when protests rallies have been held across the state by the Maratha community, for reservations and justice for the rape of a teen allegedly committed by few Dalits.

The package is set to be the highest for Marathwada region and is one-fifth of the state’s annual budget of Rs. 2.56 lakh crore.

The meeting, which was attended by revenue minister Chandrakant Patil, finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and water resource minister Girish Mahajan, held in Aurangabad after eight years.

Devendra Fadnavis said, “Funds for the development of Marathwada should not be perceived as a package. It is a detailed financial outlay planned for different departments to carry out a time-bound action program over the next four years.”

He further added, “The government was planning a special cabinet meeting in Aurangabad last year, but it did not happen due to drought conditions. We are not claiming all issues of the region have been successfully addressed in a single cabinet meet, but today's meeting has prepared a roadmap of development for the region.”

Taking a dig at the opposition leaders questioning the meeting, Fadnavis said, “Those who sat on issues of Marathwada for 15 years were hoping that we would address the same in a single meeting.”

By Prajakt K