Maha attracted investments even during COVID-19 crisis: Guv

Maharashtra faced a financial blow during COVID-19 crisis, but Maha Vikas Aghi (MVA) government took different measures to come out of situation, Goverr Bhagat Singh Koshyari said on Tuesday.

dressing a programme in Marathi at Shivaji Park here to mark 72nd Republic Day, Koshyari said Maharashtra remained at forefront of attracting investments and employment generation even during verse situation of COVID-19 crisis.

He hailed government machinery for working "day and night" hand-in-hand with state's health apparatus, and said that is why people welcomed New Year with "a positive beginning and lots of hope".

goverr also urged people to exhibit "same cour" shown during COVID-19 crisis and remain alert about health by opting a new lifestyle with self-discipline.

"Though we faced calamities like COVID-19, hailstorm, cyclone Nisarg, untimely rains and bird flu, we are marching ahe in all sectors. During COVID-19 crisis, state received a financial blow, but my government took different measures to come out of this situation," he said.

"We are combating all se calamities with might and determination, and I am confident that we will keep trition of development of Maharashtra by converting calamity into opportunity," he said.

Koshyari ted that number COVID-19 patients has come down, but said people need to remain vigilant.

goverr stressed on giving utmost priority to maintaining social distance, use of masks and washing hands regularly.

He said government implemented its 'My Family My Responsibility' campaign successfully by creating awareness among citizens.

state government has given benefit of Rs 20,000 crore to 30 lakh registered farmers under its Mahatma Jyotirao Phule farmers' loan waiver scheme during period of one year, he said.

government has launched a campaign of 'whatever is sold would be cultivated' for farmers and under initiative, projects of developing district-wise and crop-wise 1,345 value chains are being implemented, he said.

"I am also happy to mention that state government has purchased cotton to extent which is a record in last 10 years. For first time, this year, my government purchased un-milled food-grains during Rabi season," goverr said.

During COVID-19 crisis, government reduced price of Shiv Bhojan' meal to just Rs 5. re are over 900 Shiv Bhojan centres me functional in state and more than 2.5 crore needy people have benefitted from scheme, Koshyari said.

He said Maharashtra remained at forefront of attracting investment and employment generation even during verse situation of COVID-19 crisis.

state attracted investments worth Rs 2 lakh crore by inking memorandum of understanding (MoU) with various leing companies and through foreign direct investment under 'Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0' initiative, he said.

"Employment generation for 2,53,880 people will be re through this investment and it is a big achievement of my government, he said. goverr also said that government provided a financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to more than 10 lakh construction and Mathi workers during lockdown period. Shelter homes and meals were provided to labourers who h to migrate due to lockdown and workers from or states, he said.

On issue of women's safety, Koshyari said government has prepared a Shakti bill, and ded that it is creating first separate women's battalion in State Reserved Police Force. He said work on coastal ro, that will connect Mumbai island city to western suburbs, is going on in a "speedy" manner.

" Metro services in cities of Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur will soon become functional so that it will help reduce pressure on local train service," he said.

'Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Prosperity' highway corridor, joining various districts of Maharashtra, will also become functional soon, goverr said. " stretch between Nagpur and Shirdi on this corridor will be opened for traffic soon," he ded.

goverr said government's decision of reducing stamp duty for house purchase has helped revive construction sector and in dition helped bring state ecomy to rmalcy.

"During period of four months between September and December last year, property registration has increased by 48 per cent while revenue has increased by Rs 367 crore, compared to previous year of 2019 for same period," he said. government has me changes in 7/12 extract for first time after eight deces, Koshyari said. "Twelve changes like water mark, unique code will result in curbing irregularities in land matters," he ded. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray unfurled tricolour at his official residence 'Varsha' here.