4 years on, Maru Vikas Board plan still on paper
In 2014, while announcing the budget for 2014-15 fiscal, chief minister Vasundhara Raje had announced the formation of the Maru Vikas Board for the development of Barmer and Jaisalmer. However, the plan is yet to see the light of the day.
The Maru Vikas Board was proposed for the planned development of Barmer and Jaisalmer districts. The board was to have its headquarters in Barmer and was supposed to ensure allaround development of the desert districts.
When HT asked BJP district president Jalam Singh Rawlot on the present status of the board, the former legislature from Sheo was clueless. Earlier, Rawlot had told the media that the process of forming the board is underway.
Sources in the district administration too confirmed that till date they have “not received any proposal or correspondence from the state government” in the matter. BJP legislature from Chohtan constituency in Barmer, Tarun Rai Kaga, accepted that there has been no progress in the matter yet. “Formation of the Maru Vikas Board will boost development in the desert district,” Kaga said.
Mevaram Jain, Congress legislature from Barmer assembly seat said that he had raised the issue in the state assembly and other platforms. “This government had always ignored Barmer,” he said.
He alleged that Barmer’s development was never this government’s priority. He alleged that this government has not only misguided the people in the name of ‘Maru Vikas Board’ but also on other issues.
“This government has cheated the people of Barmer in the name of the refinery, medical college, drinking water projects, rail link, inland dry port and much more,” said Jain.
Not only are the people of Barmer and Jaisalmer waiting for the formation of the Maru
BARMER:
Vikas Board but also a number of politicians.
Sources claimed that Maru Vikas Board will be an autonomous body and the chairperson may get the status of a cabinet minister or MP. That’s why many politicians in Barmer and Jaisalmer are waiting for it.
However, political observers have another view over the entire issue. Rajendra Singh Bhiyand, a political observer, claimed that the announcement was a planned political strategy.
He said that it was to woo a particular section, adding that the party will announce the chairperson of ‘Maru Vikas Board’ soon before the next election.