Standard of research in universities must improve: Governor

Governor Vidyasagar Rao today chaired a meeting of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Cabinet colleagues where a wide range of issues, including those related to development, were discussed.
The deliberations centred around functioning of Statutory Development Boards, issues related to tribal development, higher education and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, among others. Besides Fadnavis and other Ministers, top bureaucrats attended the meeting, which took place in Raj Bhavan here.
The Boards, constituted by the Governor from time to time, act as advisory bodies. These Boards, among other functions, assess the impact of various development efforts in removing regional imbalance and in achieving overall growth.

Addressing the conclave, Rao observed than more than 150 tmc ft of water from the Godavari river basin in the state had not been fully utilised. He asked the government to take steps to harness the water fully for the benefit of farmers.
Observing that none of the state's universities features in the top 200 in the world, the Governor, who is also Chancellor of universities called for efforts to improve the standard of higher education and research in varsities.
The Kelkar Committee report on regional development, speeding up the process of removal of backlog in irrigation sector in Amravati Division, providing adequate representation to Vidarbha and Marathwada in employment in government services and effective implementation of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 were also discussed, officials said.