Cabinet clears Rs 879.63 crore for international agriculture centre at Dabha in Nagpur

A world-class "International Agriculture Facility Centre" will be built in Nagpur on land belonging to Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University, in the Mouza Dabha area. The state Cabinet has approved a revised administrative cost of Rs 879.63 crore for the centre. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

On the finances, an provision of Rs 235 crore had earlier been made for the first phase of the project. This has now been increased by Rs 342.72 crore, and a revised administrative cost of Rs 577.72 crore has been approved for the first phase. Funds of Rs 301.91 crore have been sanctioned for construction of the second phase.

The international agriculture research centre is expected to promote modern knowledge, research, new technology and agricultural exhibitions in farming. The centre will be an important platform for international-level discussions, exchange of ideas and new ideas related to farming.

To ensure the centre functions well and a commercial-style model can be prepared for it, a regulatory committee will be formed at the level of the state Chief Secretary. A separate management committee will also be set up. The responsibility for building the international centre has been given to the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC).

The meeting took another decision concerning Nagpur district. The state Cabinet approved the free transfer of 1.86 hectares of government land in Mouza Bidgaon of Kamptee tehsil for the construction of the administrative building of the Bidgaon Tirodi (Khurd) nagar panchayat. This decision was also taken at the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

On the land details, survey numbers 31, 32 and 33 in Mouza Bidgaon hold 0.67, 1.06 and 0.13 hectares respectively, making a total of 1.86 hectares. Keeping in mind citizens' convenience and the public interest, approval was given to hand the land over to the chief officer of the nagar panchayat. This clears the way for construction of the nagar panchayat's administrative building.