Raigad gets Rs 594.66 crore development fund; guardian minister orders full spending by March-end

Alibag: With crores of rupees coming in for the development of Raigad district, the money must be spent on time and on good-quality works. Against this backdrop, Guardian Minister Bharat Gogawale gave the administration clear instructions on spending the funds at a meeting of the District Planning Committee.

A total development fund of Rs 594.66 crore has been sanctioned for the district for 2026-27, and the plan is to spend all of it. Gogawale directed that no fund should be left unspent by the end of March, that administrative and technical approval be given promptly to sanctioned works, and that there be no compromise on the quality of work.

The meeting expected the administration to work in a planned manner so that there is no gap between the allocation of funds and the actual completion of works. The guardian minister also said tenders for sanctioned works should be completed on time and administrative and technical approval given immediately.

Gogawale said works on roads, drinking water supply, rural electrification and sewage management in the district should be completed on priority. Directions were also given to improve facilities at primary health centres, ensure an adequate supply of medicines, and attend to teachers' attendance as well as the physical facilities in Zilla Parishad schools. Works on schemes for farmers, bunds, silt-free tanks and irrigation facilities should also be completed on time. He further said infrastructure that promotes tourism should be built and self-employment schemes for youth implemented effectively.

In view of the drought situation in the state, emphasis has been laid on urgent measures to prevent water scarcity, regular water supply to citizens, and the availability of water and fodder for livestock in rural areas.

Gogawale said officials should regularly inspect work sites to maintain the quality of works. No work should be stalled for lack of coordination among the Forest Department, the Public Works Department, Mahavitaran and the Revenue Department. Important works suggested by MLAs, MPs and local people's representatives should be given priority and completed on time. He also said a special mechanism should be put in place to resolve citizens' complaints quickly at the local level.

Citizens of the district are now watching how fast the Rs 594-crore fund is used and how many of the basic problems in Raigad's rural and urban areas it solves.