New RCF fertilizer plant in Raigad district of Maharashtra: CM

In a development boost to the coastal Konkan region, the new Fertilizer Plant of Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers Ltd. (RCF) will be set up at Thal, in Raigad district, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here today.
The decision was taken at meeting here, attended by Union Ministers Ananth Kumar and Hansraj Ahir for developmental projects in Maharashtra.
Some new institutions, projects, parks have been planned in Vidarbha, Marathwada, North and Western Maharashtra and Konkan region, Fadnavis said, after the meeting.
Maharashtra government will sign Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre for starting 100 'Janaushadhi' centers in the state for providing medicine to poor and underprivileged, he added.

It was also decided to give more impetus on generic medicines and to make available all types of medicines for poor at a very low cost.
National Institute of Pharma Educational Research (NIPER) will be set up at Nagpur, Fadnavis said, adding a Central team will visit the city in this regard by May end.

CIPET (Central Institute of Plastics Engg & Tech), Aurangabad will be expanded and 2 more centres of CIPET will be set up at Jalgaon and Pune, he said.
Land has been identified for Chandrapur CIPET. Bulk drug park will be set up at Aurangabad and medical devices park will be set up at Nagpur, he added.

Plastic Park will be set up at Jalgaon with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore and employment generation of around one lakh, Fadnavis said.
"This highway will create a revolution in agro-based
industry. As gas and petroleum pipelines will be laid under this highway, gas-based industry too will come to Vidarbha. Farmers will become rich as they will be the partners in the project," the CM said.
He said the opponents of this project are against development. "The time is now ripe to show them their place."
Fadnavis said education scenario has started looking up under his government.
"The state was languishing at 16th place in education. We started 'Shaikshanik Maharashtra Abhiyan' and through it improved the learning output of 17,000 schools to 100 per cent. As a result, the state has now jumped to number 3 place," he said.

The CM said his government has already decided to give 20% grant to all unaided schools.
"We are serious about the teachers working at non-aided schools," he added.