Maha budget gives Rs 100 cr for Shivaji, Ambedkar memorials

Govt will also build memorials for Bal Thackeray at Mumbai and Gopinath Munde at Aurangabad

The BJP-led government in Maharashtra today announced Rs 100 crore for the erection of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial in the Arabian Sea and Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial at Indu Mill here.

Funds will also be made available for the development of Diksha Bhumi at Nagpur, Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said while presenting the state budget in Legislative Assembly.

The government will also build memorials for Bal Thackeray at Mumbai and Gopinath Munde at Aurangabad, Mungantiwar said.

"Rs 25 crore have been earmarked for repairs and renovation of the Hutatma Smaraks in the state," he said.

The government will undertake development work on memorials of Hutatma Rajguru, Krantiveer Lahuji Salwe, Veer Baburao Puleshwar Shedmake, samadhi shrines of Saint Sevalal at Poharadevi (Washim district) and Saint Mungasaji Maharaj samadhi shrine at Dhamangaon Dev (Yavatmal district).

"Funds will also be provided for the development of Rashtrsant Tukdoji Maharaj Tapobhumi, Gondoda, at Chimur in Chandrapur. Rs 31 crore will be made available for this purpose. A memorial of all Param Vir Chakra awardees from the state will be erected at Mumbai, he said.

Rs 14 crore will be provided for the publicity and dissemination of Marathi language and preservation of rare and antique books by way of digitization.

Following are budget highlights:

Rs 5 crore for the digitization of Asiatic Library, Mumbai.

Evaluation Committee to be set up to evaluate and classify the existing laws, schemes, and government resolutions and to repeal the unnecessary items among these.

A separate Control Room to be established at the Mantralay for monitoring of the government aided schemes through evidence-based photography.

The government will launch the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Jan Van Vikas Yojana for integrated development of the areas in forest buffer zone with public participation with financial allocation of Rs 25 crore, he said.